Chatham-Kent’s mayor is calling out a local councillor for making unsubstantiated claims about a major municipal project.
Ward 6 Councillor Michael Bondy emailed a statement to members of the media last week, condemning council’s decision to move forward with the CK Community Hub Project, calling it “a waste of tax dollars.”
“To say that I am disappointed with council and administration over approving a contract for the construction of the hub would be the most polite way to say it. The less polite way to say it is that I feel deceived, misled, and left without answers,” Bondy said in his email. “I can no longer restrain my comments or to [sic] give certain players the benefit of the doubt.”
On October 20, council voted 14-4 in favour of awarding a $39.2 million contract for the construction of the Community Hub in the former Sears building in downtown Chatham. The project will consolidate the existing Civic Centre, library, and museum into a single building.
While CK administration has maintained that the project would not exceed a total cost of $53 million, Bondy made several claims in his email about additional expenses related to interest payments and construction contingencies that were allegedly not approved by council.
Bondy, who has previously announced his intention to run for the mayor’s seat in the 2026 municipal election, also claimed that the construction contract “has no cap.”
“Administration now has a blank cheque with taxpayers’ money that will not be under $75 million and likely closer to $90-100 million,” Bondy said in his email. “So much for ‘It will not be more than $53 million.’ That was the number we were fed for years.”
CK Mayor Darrin Canniff issued a statement on Tuesday in response to Bondy’s claims, calling them “an attack on the credibility and integrity of our council, staff, and consultants.”
“The total project budget for the Community Hub is $52.8 million. Full stop,” Canniff said. “Claims of hidden costs, undisclosed interest, or a ‘blank cheque’ are false, plain and simple. It has been explained to Councillor Bondy several times in open session and through reports that all contingencies ($7.1 million in this case) are built into the $52.8 million budget, yet he still fails to grasp the concept.”
Bondy also made reference to spending up to $20 million on a new fire hall in Chatham in relation to the hub project, claiming that the associated costs have not been disclosed or approved by council.
Canniff refuted this, noting that the fire hall is a separate project that will be considered by council at a later date.
“This project, as per the council-approved Fire Masterplan, needs to take place regardless of what was decided on the [CK Community Hub] project,” said Canniff. “[Bondy’s] efforts to intertwine the costs of two unrelated projects is yet another instance of misinformation.”
“Councillor Bondy has had access to the project financing information for over a year,” Canniff added.
Based on an information bulletin published by Chatham-Kent’s integrity commissioner earlier this month, it is possible that Bondy’s comments could be interpreted as a breach of the municipal council code of conduct.
“The code does not prevent a council member to advance a political position. However, the code rules do not allow a council member to intentionally communicate inaccurate statements which give the impression that staff have not provided accurate or sufficient information to council,” Integrity Commissioner Suzanne Craig wrote in the bulletin. “To make such statements (verbally, written or on social media), if investigated and sustained, will likely constitute conduct that undermines staff and such conduct will be a contravention of the code.”
Canniff said he, council, and administration are bound to provide residents with accurate, verified information.
“I understand that Councillor Bondy, ever since declaring his intention to run for mayor, is against this project, but attempting to cast aspersions on it through the spread of misinformation is unprofessional and beneath the integrity of a Chatham-Kent councillor,” said Canniff.
Bondy has been a clear opponent of the community hub on council and said he believes moving forward with the project is not reflective of what the community wants.
“It is unfortunate that the election is a year away and the voters didn’t get a say on the Hub. But when it comes, the voters should remember,” he said.
Construction of the community hub is expected to begin in December, with completion planned for early 2028.
