Sarnia-Lambton Poverty Reduction Network to host candidates forum Sept. 10

Municipal candidates will address housing, food insecurity, and transportation at a moderated Q&A on Sept. 10.

Sarnia-Lambton’s Poverty Reduction Network will host a public forum where City and County council candidates (note: not city council only candidates) can address the region’s poverty challenges on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Dante Club, 1330 London Road. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event will be a moderated question-and-answer session, not a debate. Candidates will respond to three pre-selected questions from the PRN, with the floor also open to audience questions submitted in advance or during the event.

“With debates being held closer to the election, we felt that a moderated question and answer session would allow for all the candidates in attendance to have an opportunity to give their views and opinions on this very important subject,” said PRn Co-Chair Adrienne McPhee.

The three questions will focus on the unseen aspects of poverty that community members witness daily—specifically housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of public transportation. The PRN aims to prompt candidates to articulate how they plan to address these issues during the next council term.

Sarnia-Lambton United Way data underscores the need for this conversation. Approximately 15 per cent of households in Lambton County are considered low-income, and 25.4 per cent experienced food insecurity in 2023-24.

The Poverty Reduction Network, a coalition of local agencies and community members active since 2008, works to raise awareness, advocate for policy change, and mitigate the impacts of poverty in the region. The organization prioritizes ensuring that the voices of those living in poverty are heard by government at all levels.

Community members interested in submitting questions ahead of the forum can email Adrienne McPhee at [email protected] with the subject line “All Candidates Question.” Questions can also be submitted at the event.