Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Sarnia. November 21, 2017 (Photo by Melanie Irwin)Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Sarnia. November 21, 2017 (Photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Mayor Has Big Dreams For The Community

Sarnia's mayor shared his perspective on Sarnia-Lambton's past, present and future with the Rotary Club of Sarnia Tuesday.

Mike Bradley was the guest speaker at the club's luncheon and told members there are a lot of things in the community to be excited about right now.

"I've seen what we're doing with the economic partnership and the research park in changing the economy in new directions," Bradley said. "I'm also pleased the community is coming together to attract more people in and we're dealing with some of the more substantial social issues -- such as opioid addictions."

Bradley said he really wants to focus on attracting new residents in 2018.

"In the new year, I'll be asking the county, the college and all of the other groups like the local immigration partnership to take another look at how we're attracting people into this area. It's very difficult when people are coming into Canada, or within Canada, to get them not to go to Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver."

Mayor Bradley says the future of NOVA is always on his mind.

"I'm always cautiously optimistic," he said. "But I was also part of the group that was involved in the Shell plant and I kept trying to say to the public, until they walk through that final gate, until they put that shovel in the ground, don't believe the rumours. Just wait and see how it unfolds. I have every encouragement that it is moving forward and that in itself is a great benefit to this community. When construction trades work for a couple years here -- the whole town works."

Construction of a new world-scale polyethylene plant, estimated to cost $2-billion, in St. Clair Township still hasn't been confirmed.

A final investment decision from NOVA Chemicals was expected by the end of this year.

In the meantime, the mayor, who is just shy of marking 30 years in office, admits this has been a rough term.

"It has been one of the most difficult terms personally for a variety of reasons, I'm not going to elaborate on that," he said. "I think it's pretty obvious to the public it's been difficult."

A report released last October found Mayor Bradley violated workplace harassment provisions and last June he was the focus of a damning report by Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze.

Bradley's health has also taken a beating this term, something he's pretty private about.

He went public following a cancer surgery in August 2016 and confirmed recently he has had more cancer surgery on his ear and foot this year.

Despite all of it, Bradley says he still has "huge dreams for this community."

"We've come a long way," Bradley said. "But boy we've got a long way to go to satisfy all of the things that will make us a Renaissance City; environmentally, socially and economically."

Read More Local Stories