Phil St. Jean

Picton Ward One

Phil St. Jean respects and deeply cares about the community he grew up in. He is thankful to Prince Edward County and the town of Picton for giving his family the opportunity to live, work and play in such a fantastic place. Growing up, St. Jean’s father was a great inspiration to him. His dad was always involved in their community, organizing and volunteering at various events and groups.

“I saw the joy it brought him to give back and be a part of this great County. I genuinely believe, as I know he did, that we should all take an active role in building a better place to live. I believe if you have an opinion on something and feel strongly about it, you should speak up and be a part of the solution.”

St. Jean has been talking to many voters in Picton over a long period of time, and at the top of everyone’s list of concerns is the high cost of sewer and water fees, which is an issue with no apparent relief in sight. Decent affordable housing and the minimal progress made over the last four years is another area of concern. The poor condition of our County roads and the healthcare system are also areas of concern for St Jean.

When asked why voters should put their faith in him, St. Jean’s response is that he has had a lifetime of experience in leadership roles working with and for the people of Picton and Prince Edward County. St. Jean believes that it’s time for new people with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to represent the County of the future. But it’s also about having someone on council who will be the most responsive to the needs of Picton residents. St. Jean wants to make sure he is available to ready to listen and bring the concerns and issues of Ward 1 to the horseshoe at Shire Hall.

Water rates, affordable housing and property taxes are some of the top issues facing residents in 2018, and issues like roads, healthcare and transit are not far behind.

As far as opportunities for the next term of council, St. Jean sees the next council having the potential to make positive strides on correcting the housing shortage through partnerships like the Love Song project and Pinecrest school. Another opportunity will be that of a tourist economy that will continue to expand if all parties involved continue to foster growth in that area.

“Agriculture and the next generation of farmers should be seen as an opportunity that requires encouragement because new farmers are thinking outside the box and growing their businesses in ways that are quite often non-traditional. We need to support and encourage this diversity as it will have long-term benefits for other sectors of our local economy,” says St. Jean.

St. Jean sees amazing growth potential for housing development in the Picton area. He thinks that the future council will need to find the best way to expedite these types of development while still respecting good planning practices. He also sees the next council being integral in the plans for the new hospital and making sure it meets the needs of the residents. Another exciting opportunity available to the future council will be the opportunity to work with an MPP who has a key role in the new government at Queen’s Park. St. Jean feels that we should take full advantage of this benefit to our community.

“I have done this my entire life. I feel I have more to give to what I consider the next level of community leadership by helping our wonderful community work through the challenges of today and plan for those of the future,” says St. Jean.