Mayoral candidate Max LeMarchant has issued a detailed statement addressing questions and comments raised following his registration as a candidate for Mayor of Cobourg.
LeMarchant said he was unable to respond sooner because he was attending a family wedding over the Civic Holiday weekend, but wanted to clarify several issues, including potential conflicts of interest, past political donations, and remarks he made during a 2018 public meeting.
Conflict of Interest
LeMarchant said he has lived in Cobourg for 23 years and has been involved in business in the community for 37 years. He noted that both he and his wife are second-generation Cobourg residents and that their four children were born and raised in the town.
He explained that he was the founding and managing partner of the New Amherst community, with planning approvals for the subdivision—including residential, commercial, parkland and school lands—granted by the Town in 1997.
LeMarchant said he sold his ownership interest in the New Amherst development company in 2014 but retained ownership of New Amherst Homes, the home-building company he continues to operate. Since 2011, he said the company has built more than 250 semi-custom homes within the already approved subdivision.
While acknowledging that questions have been raised about possible conflicts of interest, LeMarchant said the long-standing approvals for New Amherst limit the potential for conflicts. He added that should any conflict arise, he would address it openly and in accordance with Ontario’s Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and other applicable legislation.
He said transparency and integrity are essential to maintaining public confidence in municipal government.
Campaign Contributions
LeMarchant also addressed his history of making political donations.
He said he has contributed to municipal candidates over the years in accordance with Ontario law while also supporting numerous local charities, organizations and community initiatives.
Regarding the 2022 municipal election, LeMarchant said he did not donate to then-mayoral candidate Lucas Cleveland because he felt he did not know enough about Cleveland’s background or experience at the time.
Following the election, however, he said he wished Mayor Cleveland success and was optimistic about Cobourg’s future.
LeMarchant said his decision to run for mayor stems from concerns that have developed over the past four years regarding municipal governance, development decisions and what he believes is the direction of the community.
He said his experience in planning, construction, finance, business management and community building has prepared him to lead Cobourg through future challenges.
2018 French Catholic School Comments
LeMarchant also responded to criticism surrounding comments he made during a 2018 Town Council meeting concerning the proposed French-language Catholic elementary school in New Amherst.
He rejected suggestions that he called members of the public xenophobic, racist or bigoted.
Instead, LeMarchant said his comments were directed toward discussions that focused on the ethnicity of prospective students or where they might come from, arguing those were not legitimate planning considerations.
He said such topics raised concerns of xenophobia, racism or bigotry in his view and that he found those issues offensive because they were unrelated to evaluating a planning application.
LeMarchant emphasized that he was criticizing the nature of some of the arguments presented during the hearing, not labelling individual residents.
He added that he stands by those remarks today.
LeMarchant also welcomed the progress of the French-language Catholic elementary school, noting construction is underway and the school is expected to open in September 2027. He said the project will provide a modern school, licensed daycare, employment opportunities and a long-term community asset.
Platform Coming This Week
Looking ahead, LeMarchant said he will release his election platform later this week on his campaign website, outlining his vision, priorities and commitments for Cobourg.
He encouraged residents to review his platform, ask questions and evaluate all candidates fairly before casting their ballots.
“If, after doing so, you believe my experience, ideas, and leadership are what Cobourg needs at this important time, I would be honoured to earn your support and your vote,” LeMarchant said.
Max LeMarchant Addresses Concerns
Over the weekend, following my registration as a candidate for Mayor of Cobourg, a number of comments and questions were raised. I was away attending a family wedding over the long weekend, so I was unable to respond. I would now like to address some of those questions.
Conflict of Interest
I have been a continuous resident of the Town of Cobourg for the past 23 years and have been actively involved in business in Cobourg for the past 37 years. My wife and I are both second-generation Cobourg residents, and our four children were born and raised here and continue to make their lives in the community we proudly call home.
I was the founding and managing partner of the New Amherst community on the west side of Cobourg. The planning approvals for New Amherst—including its homes, parks, school, commercial areas, and Traditional Town Planning (“New Urbanism”) design—were granted by the Town in June 1997, nearly 30 years ago.
In 2014, I sold my ownership interest in the New Amherst development company while retaining ownership of New Amherst Homes, the home-building company that I continue to own and operate today. Since 2011, New Amherst Homes has built more than 250 semi-custom homes within the already approved New Amherst community.
Because New Amherst has been an approved community for many years, my ongoing home-building activities present limited potential for conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, should any matter arise in which I have a conflict, I will deal with it openly, transparently, and fully in accordance with Ontario’s Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and all applicable legislation. Public confidence in municipal government depends upon transparency and integrity, and that is the standard I will uphold.
Campaign Contributions
Over many years, as both a resident and business owner, I have made political contributions to municipal candidates in accordance with Ontario law. I have also supported numerous community organizations, charities, events, and local initiatives whenever I believed they were worthy of support and I was able to contribute.
In the 2022 municipal election, I did not contribute to Lucas Cleveland’s campaign because he was relatively new to Cobourg and I did not know enough about his background, experience, or character to make an informed decision. Following the election, I wished Mayor Cleveland every success and looked forward with optimism to the future of our Town.
Over the past four years, however, I have become increasingly concerned about the direction of municipal governance, the challenges facing Cobourg, and development decisions that, in my opinion, do not reflect the character and long-term vision of our community. Those concerns—not politics or personalities—are why I have decided to seek the office of Mayor.
I believe that my nearly four decades of experience in planning, construction, business management, finance, and community building provide me with the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to help guide Cobourg through the challenges ahead.
Regarding the 2018 French Catholic School Public Meeting
I would also like to address comments regarding my presentation to Cobourg Town Council in 2018 concerning the proposed French-language Catholic elementary school at New Amherst.
Some have suggested that I called members of the public xenophobic, racist, or bigots. That is simply not true.
What I said at the public meeting was that, in my view, when discussion of a land use planning application turns to the ethnicity of the students or where they come from, those considerations raise concerns of xenophobia, racism, or bigotry. I stated that I personally found those considerations offensive because they were not relevant planning considerations in deciding a land use application.
My comments were directed at the nature of some of the issues being raised during the hearing—not at labelling individual residents.
I stand by those remarks today.
I am also pleased to see that the project is now moving forward. The French-language Catholic elementary school is under construction in New Amherst and is scheduled to open in September 2027. It will provide a modern elementary school, licensed daycare, employment opportunities, and an important community asset that will serve Cobourg families for generations to come.
Reasonable people can disagree on planning matters, and respectful public debate is an important part of our democracy. However, I believe those discussions should remain focused on legitimate planning issues and conducted with respect for every member of our community.
Looking Ahead
Later this week I will be releasing my platform on votemax.ca, outlining my vision, priorities, and commitments for Cobourg’s future.
Ultimately, the decision belongs to the people of Cobourg. I encourage everyone to review my platform, ask questions, and evaluate all candidates fairly. If, after doing so, you believe my experience, ideas, and leadership are what Cobourg needs at this important time, I would be honoured to earn your support and your vote.
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
