By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Ward 3 – Colchester candidate Corey St. Onge grew up in Essex, and moved back in in 2019. He is married with two boys, and likes to be involved as much as he can.

St. Onge is a Project Manager for Valente Development, and also runs his own drafting and design and construction business.

“I have a lot of background in management, budgeting, and planning,” St. Onge said. “I have taken developments from raw fields right straight through to building 100 homes on them. To me, that experience is something Council lacks.”

He said he has experience running $60M budgets, and running a Town budget is not that different.

St. Onge would focus on proper planning and good use planning. For example, there are several developments planned for Colchester. He wondered if Colchester could support the developments planned.

“I can bring that perspective of the developer, of the builder, and say ‘yeah it is a great idea, I would love to see the development, but is it actually going to work?'”

He spoke of how “we could very easily turn Colchester and Harrow into more of a tourism [area] by bringing in strategic businesses and partnering with strategic developers on certain things…I think that would make the whole Harrow and Colchester area flourish.”

As an Essex Councillor, St. Onge would also focus on proper budgeting.

He believes the sale of E.L.K. was a great maneuver of this Term of Council. It’s all about proper budgeting, accounting, and seeing what the community needs, like the new soccer complex going up.

He understands why Fire Station 3 will be located at the Harrow Soccer Complex. But that also took away from parking. It could have been better thought-out.

This Term of Council has lacked community engagement. He plans to ask what residents need by conducting polls, monthly meetings, or get-togethers.

St. Onge voiced frustration with the period of time he said it has taken other Councillors to respond to his inquiries.

He is the type of person who will respond promptly.

He also spoke of the importance of proper fiscal management and planning.

Recently, St. Onge said Council has done a good job with planning capital projects. It’s about ensuring that continues on, so there is a five and 10-year plan going forward.

He believes in asset management planning. In his own life, he believes if you can’t pay cash, it’s not affordable.

St. Onge said he can bring his business experience to Council, which seems to be lacking.

The incumbent Mayor, St. Onge, added, has done a great job on changing things from the way they were.

St. Onge trying to run a fiscally responsible campaign as possible.

He said he has not accepted a single donation, because he does not want to be beholden to anyone.

Fiscal responsibility is important because today there are people who can’t afford homes. He would also like to bring in some kind of affordability or grant program to get developers to build more affordable homes. If developers were given a break on Development Charges, potentially home prices could lower.

It pains him Essex Non-Profit Homes is having to sell some units. Now, there are families who may have to leave the community because they can’t afford to buy here. There are opportunities he would love to explore so people could stay.

“I think I can bring a fresh set of eyes to it and see what can the municipality do to kind of help this.”