CORNWALL, Ontario – Three term councillor Bernadette Clement announced that she is ready to run for Mayor of Cornwall.
She made the announcement around noon at the RCAF Wing 424 on Cornwall’s waterfront on Friday, July 20.
In an interview with Seaway News Clement explained some of her key policy points.
“I want us to talk about our waterfront, the arts, the new arts centre, and I want to talk about our downtowns,” she said. “The heart and soul of any community is its downtown and we are lucky enough to have two.”
She said that Cornwall’s waterfront should be central for anyone running for Mayor.
“There needs to be political discussion at the federal level,” Clement explained. She felt that the City should not have to pay top dollar for the waterfront property given the impact the creation and use of the seaway had on this region.
Clement also said she sought to bring a new approach to the annual budget deliberations.
“This last budget cycle took up way too much time for administration and council,” said Clement.
Deliberations over this year’s budget began in November and ended in early May.
She pointed to ongoing issues with property assessments from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) as one reason for the budget issues.
“We need better dialogue with MPAC and the province around these issues,” she said.
In terms of tax rates, she felt that in this area as well, there is not enough communication.
“We need to engage with the public throughout the year,” Clement said. “People will accept reasonable tax hikes if they are confident in our strategy.”
In her announcement Clement said that some have questioned how much time she will be able to dedicate to the job, she is also the Executive Director of Legal Aid Cornwall.
“I will be a full-time Mayor,” she said. Clement explained that there had been discussions in her office on a succession plan and a sharing of duties so that she could give her full focus to the job of Mayor if elected.
“If I’m elected, I’m going to be the Mayor for everyone in Cornwall, male, female, black, white, senior, youth and whether you voted for me or not,” she said. “I want to show young women that running for office is just something that women do.”
