Roger Caranci, a 61-year-old real estate agent, has entered the race for a council position in Ward 1, aiming to represent the same east London area where he previously served as a councillor from 2000 to 2010. Incumbent Hadleigh McAlister, who was elected as a newcomer in 2022, stands as Caranci’s main opponent in what is expected to be a two-person contest, unless new candidates emerge before the nomination deadline on Friday. Janette Larocque, initially registered as a candidate, has confirmed to CBC News that she has withdrawn from the race.
Caranci, after a 16-year absence from city hall, has observed various changes, with his primary concern focused on how the city has managed London’s housing and homelessness crisis, particularly in terms of expenditure. He emphasized the necessity for increased involvement from provincial and federal governments in addressing this critical issue rather than solely relying on the city’s resources.
If elected, Caranci intends to scrutinize the funds allocated by the city to partner agencies providing homeless services, notably highlighting Ark Aid Street Mission, which operates the Cronyn Warner shelter and meal services. He expressed unease over the lack of transparency regarding the utilization of allocated funds by these agencies, citing recent concerns about high-salary job postings at Ark Aid. Furthermore, he criticized certain city expenditures related to homeless support initiatives.
Caranci’s campaign aims to showcase achievements from his previous council tenure, such as advocating for the renaming of Airport Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway and supporting the construction of the Hale-Trafalgar overpass to alleviate traffic congestion caused by a rail crossing.
Challenging Caranci for the council seat is McAlister, who has consistently backed funding for Ark Aid and stressed the importance of ongoing city support while also calling for increased aid from higher levels of government to implement long-term solutions for homelessness. The debate over city spending on homeless services has been prominent, with Ward 4’s Coun. Susan Stevenson, now a mayoral candidate, being a vocal critic.
McAlister and Caranci both acknowledge the city’s pressing infrastructure needs and the necessity for improved project management in the region. McAlister highlighted his efforts to repurpose vacant properties to address issues in the ward, while both candidates expressed reservations about the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit system, preferring a light rail transit system for London.
Voters are scheduled to participate in London’s council and mayoral elections on October 26.