Northumberland Peterborough South MPP David Piccini was at the Port Hope Farmer’s Market on Saturday, July 26, 2025 connecting with people and listening to their concerns.
Joining him for the event was Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky.
Speaking to Piccini during the event he said there was a wide variety of topics discussed.
“It’s been a real wide variety.”
“Everything from street lights, to pot holes, to doctors, nurses and getting more youth into the skilled trades.”
But emphasized there were similar themes people were asking about.
“Jobs and the economy. Concerns just globally over Trumps tariffs and a lot of just unknowns for what it means for them.”
Another one of the topics was health care and how can it be improved.
Some of the stuff we’ve been doing to incentivise folks to stay in rural Ontario like covering their tuition. – we call it Learn and Stay. All the way to expanding new medical seats.”
People also brought ideas like the VIA train, and public transit along with the recent announcement of the new nuclear facility at Wesleyville.
“It will be a game changer for this region and community and to become a energy superpower to supply our country with our own energy.”
Piccini said, “things are going really well,” with the province, but added, “there are always challenges.”
“That’s why we serve in this job and that’s why we do things like this – to hear directly from people.”
Even having some of his social medias “fiercest detractors” pop by but said they were good conversations.
“I welcome the ideas, I welcome constructive criticism, or just nice feed back.”
“I think for us, the Premier has stood up to protect Canada, to protect Ontario workers, to stand up and have difficult discussions on how we can mine minerals, how we can build pipe-lines, how we can produce our own energy so we don’t need to be depended on dictatorships for oil when we have all the oil we need here.”
Piccini said he was pleased to have Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky attend as they work so closely together on numerous issues.
Today’s Northumberland asked the Mayor about the former Chemetron Lagoon area that has been revitalized and in pristine condition with a lookout, benches, trail, lights and pathway, but won’t be opened until 2027 because of testing.
“Every site that we’ve cleaned up in Port Hope is unique and different. This particular project has a record of site process that has been followed and designed by our staff. Right now the focus is on ensuring that there is growth that happens on the site before its open to the public and that’s really going to help with the longevity and the sustainability. Some of the sites just require a little bit more of that tlc and attention because ultimately we want to make sure that it is used by the public in a way that sustains it for generations to come.”
Although the area looks pristine, it remains under active monitoring to ensure it meets all safety and environment regulations.
“It’s a very intricate, it’s a very complex and it’s a very careful process.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
