St. Catharines MPP riding office coming soon
St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens has been office-less since she was elected for the riding in June, but that’s finally about to change.
The new NDP rep at Queen’s Park has found a Carlton Street storefront to call home, which is undergoing renovations to turn it into an office.
Stevens said when it’s ready later this month, she’ll host an open house so people can come and feel welcome, know there’s an open door and that the office is there to help.
“I really think that’s important to do and then they know where the location is because people are saying they went to Jim (Bradley)’s office and ‘MPP Jennie Stevens isn’t there. Where is she? We haven’t heard from her.’
“It’s been a process where we’ve been working behind the scenes trying to get an office that’s on a bus route, it’s accessible, it’s in the right area of the city that all areas can accommodate and that’s available and on budget.”
Longtime Liberal Jim Bradley’s riding office had been a fixture on Secord Drive off Scott Street for years, but Stevens’ legislative assistant Mickey Calder said the owner wanted to keep it and it was not available to rent.
Stevens’ team then set out to find a space elsewhere in the city which had the five necessity requirements.
The result will be a centrally located office in a former pet food shop at 209 Carlton St., near Buns Master and Fairview Mall, that’s anticipated to open in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, Calder said residents who need to contact Stevens can leave a voice message at 905-935-0018, which is checked daily. They can also email JStevens-CO@ndp.on.ca.
Since the election, Niagara Centre MPP NDP Jeff Burch’s office has been assisting Stevens by answering calls and picking up case work.
Burch is also a first-time MPP, but unlike Stevens who’s starting from scratch, he inherited the Welland office and staff of former NDP MPP Cindy Forster. Incumbent Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates’ office has also pitched in.
“Working together, all three of us, it’s really worked out well. I’ve been really fortunate that they understand where I’m at,” said Stevens.
She said Forster has been calling and checking in, too, and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has staff assigned to make sure everything is OK with her new MPPs, who also have to find accommodations in Toronto.
Setting up an office is a new entity for Stevens. As the former Merritton ward councillor, she answered her own phone and worked from home.
She said she’s getting razzed that the office is not in her oft-promoted ward, but added the location is only eight minutes from her house in Merritton.
“I did say when I left city council that St. Catharines is going to become my new Merritton.”