LeMarchant wants accountability for homelessness, addictions, while advocating for increased housing if elected Cobourg mayor
Max LeMarchant. Facebook.
By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.
“I am going to get the town in good working order and restore it back to the character and safety that we deserve,” that is the pledge Max LeMarchant is making if elected mayor of Cobourg on October 26.
He explains that municipal taxes and fees are rising at an unacceptable level, as taxes are up approximately 25 percent over the past four years and utility fees, charged to builders for home construction, are up 40 percent.
LeMarchant is proposing a tax, assets, and operations review to see what can be streamlined.
“A huge amount of additional costs to the taxpayers and the homeowners that live in Cobourg. That’s not sustainable. We need to get that under control,” he said.
LeMarchant is contesting for mayor against Lucas Cleveland and Nicole Beatty.
He is the only mayoral candidate to not sit on the current council. Yet, all three recognize Cobourg’s homelessness and open-air drug use as a safety issue, not only for those in crisis, but for the wellbeing and security of residents.
His approach to returning to safer parks, and safer streets, he calls as “Firm Compassion.” This would entail offering homeless people addictions and mental health treatment, combined with transitional housing. However this does not mean there should not be accountability.
“I do not believe that accommodating, enabling, or normalizing open drug use, illegal encampments, and the disorder that comes with them is compassionate. It does not help the people who are suffering, and it does not help the community around them. Real compassion means helping people move toward recovery while insisting that public spaces remain safe and welcoming for everyone,” his platform states.
LeMarchant estimates that Cobourg’s homeless population is 60-120 people. Yet there are 30-60 social services agencies in Northumberland County which are offering some level of programs to this segment of the population. He would like to bring more coordination among the service providers to better assist those in crisis.
The homeless shelter at 310 Division Street offers housing and treatment options. This shelter was opened during the current term of Cobourg council.
LeMarchant, a housing developer, said Cobourg needs a new plan, and a new vision for housing, one where there is input from the community on how they see housing. An updated Official Community Plan on what type of development is needed, creating clear building rules, defining what the town likes and dislikes. For him, it's about keeping municipal costs down, to make housing more affordable.
”Keeping costs in check. The fees to build a house have increased 40 percent on direct building fees. And utility fees, which are controlled by the town, also went up 40 percent. With those types of huge increases, this totally undermines affordable housing,” said LeMarchant.
He welcomes new initiatives from the federal and provincial government to temporarily lower municipal development fees and pausing HST on new homes, could save buyers tens of thousands of dollars.
