Belleville city Councillor and local radio show host Sean Kelly is working hard for this riding already. He is deeply versed in the pressing issues — and angry at the lack of support from the provincial government.

About his competitor, a fellow Belleville Councillor Tyler Allsopp, Mr. Kelly was severe, but not personal. “I don’t know how he can run in this ward when we all know nothing is coming to help from Ford.”

“Mayor Ellis declared a state of emergency in Belleville in February. But did anything come from this provincial government in response?”

The city’s addiction, mental health and homelessness crisis puts an immense strain on its emergency services. The Mayor called for federal and provincial help after 17 overdoses were recorded in a single 24-hour period last winter.

Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services, which includes Picton, Belleville, Trenton and Bancroft, responded to 371 opioid-related calls in 2023. There were 252 emergency department visits related to opioid poisonings that year, and 50 suspected drug-related deaths.

“What’s resonating for me across the riding is both the overload on social services and the doctor and nurse shortage.

“When it comes to PEC, an older demographic is moving in, but there are no doctors for them. Instead they are keeping family doctors as far away as Wiarton, Toronto, and Barrie.

“Meanwhile we are facing a public health and mental crisis that just cannot continue like this. At the same time as we have spiralling homelessness, Premier Ford ends rent control. Just what is the logic behind that?”

All candidates for election bemoan the province’s continuous downloading of responsibilities onto municipalities. “There are 444 municipalities across Ontario getting zero for infrastructure and mental health services,” notes Mr. Kelly. He notes Belleville implemented a 1% tax hike to increase its own services where the province has failed.

As for Highway 49: “do the math. You’ve got 10,000 people per day pouring into Sandbanks, another 10,000 just coming to visit. That’s 20,000 people per day all weekend long every weekend all summer. Something has got to give.”

Nonetheless, he is worried. The majority of voters in this province are opposed to Ford’s PC party — but they are split across the NDP and Liberals.

“The split vote benefits Mr. Allsopp. I don’t know the way around it.”