By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—On Thursday, June 8, 2023 the five candidates in Ward 4’s upcoming by-election gathered for a debate held by the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce at the Hagersville Legion.
Below are some highlights of the debate, which covered a range of topics impacting Ward 4 and the community as a whole.
In his opening remarks, Tony Dalimonte touted his “proven track record” in Ward 4, “I intend to use my experience, my involvement in the community, and my rapport with our service clubs to move the community forward,” he said, noting a need to embrace and manage growth “to improve the quality of life for all residents across the board.”
James Kaspersetz said his vision for Haldimand County is to provide “new opportunities for our people, new opportunities for development in the Nanticoke area, and an intensive transportation review of the Highway 6 link between Nanticoke.”
He laid out his plan for a partnership between the County and Mohawk College for a skilled trades apprenticeship program offering County-funded scholarships to students, in addition to a proposal for a new grain terminal in the Nanticoke industrial park.
Jesse Little said that public representation is all about people and relationships: “The reason I’m standing here with my name on this ballot is because like many in the community, I have concerns with our representation and I care about the community’s future. We need to work together to build the future we want to have.”
Albert Marshall said that no matter who wins the election, their job will be to “preserve what we have and maybe make it a little bit better.”
“What I hope to do is bring a little something I’ve learned from the farm, from my time in law, and in business to the Council,” he shared, noting that he practised law for 10 years and has been in business the last 24 years. He also shared his view on social politics in the country, stating, “They’re trying to divide us by race, by gender. They seem more concerned with pronouns than the daily lives we live.”
Marie Trainer played up her significant connection to the ward, noting that her family has lived here since 1861 and adding, “I have previously served as both Ward 4 councillor and Haldimand’s mayor. My roots run deep.”
She criticized the Nanticoke MZO, asserting that the proposal makes no sense: “Stelco begged Council to not reduce the 3km buffer zone around their lands to 300 metres, putting 40,000 citizens within spitting distance to a blast furnace…. I will fight for my people and for what’s best for Haldimand and the people who live here, rather than wealthy outside interests.… It’s what I have always done and will always do.”
Traffic in Ward 4
Kaspersetz said that transportation in Hagersville is at a critical level: “Two weeks ago, I parked outside and I counted 12 petroleum trucks, four fertilizer trucks, six steel trucks. That is a very dangerous situation to be running through our streets.”
His plan would involve working with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to review traffic congestion at key bottleneck intersections, adding, “There is no immediate fix, but it’s a start in the right direction.”
Little called roads infrastructure “the basis of any community…. We need to work with experts, engineers, our roads department, higher levels of government, and the community. When I say community, that involves Six Nations and the Mississaugas of the Credit. We need everyone on board to have an efficient and effective plan to move traffic.”
Marshall said it is crucial to ensure that the growth “that is being pushed on us” does not increase congestion, explaining, “My concern is the heavy trucks moving through Hagersville…. It’s dangerous; it’s dirty.”
Marshall did not share a specific plan to address the matter, but expressed his desire to see a bypass around Hagersville finally move forward.
Trainer laid out a vision for a temporary bypass on existing roads in Hagersville and Mississaugas of the Credit. This would include an upgraded Sandusk Road “to handle heavy trucks”, a stoplight at Haldimand Road 9, a throughway for Sandusk at Concession 13 for clear driving to Haldimand Road 20, “then a small jig-jag on Ojibway Road, then right on Mississauga Road, also called 1st Line, to Highway 6…. This could be done until the MTO finally gets its act together.”
As the former councillor, Dalimonte has previously shared struggles to make the MTO move forward on a bypass. At the meeting, he responded to the other candidates’ plans, “Let’s be clear, the responsibility for a bypass in Hagersville is the responsibility of the provincial government. It is illegal for Haldimand County to try to divert trucks off Highway 6. You cannot do it. I asked that question many years ago. They won’t let us do it. Successive provincial governments have let us down.”
He pledged to work with Stelco VP Trevor Harris to form a committee of County, trucking, and local industry representatives to address the issue.
Library + Active Living Centre
Little called the blueprints for the centre “underwhelming and under-planned. A gymnasium with a library. Fifteen years down the road, is that going to be sustaining the community? We need more facilities/programming for the aging population.”
Marshall praised the centre, but noted it needs to be built “now and on budget…. During COVID the Chinese built a multi-story 1,500 bed hospital in 10 days…. We shouldn’t wait so long. We need to change the way we think about what can and cannot be done…. Is it going to be beautiful? Is it going to be useful? Then let’s get digging.”
Trainer said that she would work to ensure hard timelines are in place for the project, with fines for missing deadlines.
Dalimonte, who heads the community fundraising committee behind the project, sees unlimited potential in the facility: “This complex is a multipurpose, multifunctional facility and will be a significant asset.… We are looking at the issue of seniors programming and children’s programming. We’re also contemplating an after-school program for children, which would be the first of its kind in the county.”
Kaspersetz spoke of utilizing the facility for additional uses, including continuing education workshops in collaboration with Mohawk College and industry nights for local employers.
Other issues on the table included affordable housing, physician recruitment, recreation and tourism in the ward, and urban/residential growth.
For more information on how to vote, visit haldimandcounty.ca.
