Amherstburg town councillor feels targeted

Amherstburg Coun. Linden Crain defends his conversation with Premier Ford over Diageo.

Amherstburg town councillor Linden Crain was questioned Monday night by other members of council on his ongoing communications with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Crain went on AM800’s Mornings with Mike and Meg detailing he received a call from Ford March 1. The call lasted two minutes.

Crain said they talked about the town’s economic and financial needs after Diageo closed its doors with plans to shift some bottling operations stateside.

“It seemed very disrespectful,” said Coun. Diane Pouget. “I started to get numerous phone calls. People saying, ‘We do not want him to be speaking on anything to do with Diageo or money that would be coming to our municipality.’ That would be council’s prerogative.”

Crain told council the Premier publicly shares his cell phone number online and that he believes, there isn’t a problem for him or any other members of council to keep in touch with Ford as relationship with upper levels of government are important.

“It was no disrespect,” he told council. “We’re all ambassadors for the town.”

Crain went on to imply there was an alternative motive to the questioning.

“Just a clarification because I feel like I’m being targeted here. Clearly, it’s an election year,” he stated. “Out of 444 municipalities, I want to make sure Amherstburg is known.”