CORNWALL, P.E.I. — A Cornwall councillor is questioning the town’s plan to meet with a federal Conservative MP, as well as the area’s local candidate, in the months leading up to the election.
During a recent council meeting, Coun. Cory Frizzell raised the issue of a town meeting planned with MP Matt Jeneroux and Malpeque candidate Stephen Stewart.
An email was sent earlier to councillors informing them an infrastructure committee meeting would be scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on May 29 in order to accommodate Jeneroux and Stewart, who wanted to speak with council about infrastructure projects.
“Are we inviting in other federal political candidates to future town council meetings,” Frizzell asked during the meeting, later saying he was curious about the decision. “It seems unusual for an MP from Edmonton and a candidate for the federal election to be coming to meet with Cornwall council.
“Council seems to be OK with it. I’m fine with it, as long as we’re extending that invitation to all party candidates, not just the Conservative party.”
The meeting, open to the public, will be held in lieu of the regularly scheduled June 6 infrastructure committee meeting.
Coun. Elaine Barnes, who chairs the infrastructure committee, said any federal candidates would be welcome to meet with council.
She said the meeting came about after she was contacted by Jeneroux, who said he was going to be on P.E.I and requested a meeting with council.
“I assume it’s to see if there’s anything that they can do to help push anything along,” said Barnes, who said it was logical to tie Jeneroux’s visit in with the town’s infrastructure committee meeting.
Cornwall CAO Kevin Coady noted that Jeneroux is the federal Conservative infrastructure critic.
Mayor Minerva McCourt also said the town would meet with members of any party.
“Anybody who wishes to come and meet, it’s our duty to meet with them whoever they are,” said McCourt. “It would be no different if it were anyone else.”
