Provenzano begins his exit from municipal duties

Mayor Christian Provenzano, who has repeatedly stated he won't seek re-election in this fall's municipal race, has started to cut back on his mayoral activities.

As SooToday's Darren Taylor reported last week, Provenzano advised the Police Services Board that its Jan. 27 meeting would be his last as municipal appointee.

Also last week, the two-term mayor wrote to city councillors and chief administrative officer Malcolm White, asking that he be replaced on both the police board and the local water board.

"As you are all aware," he wrote, "I have served on both the water commission (PUC) and the Police Services Board (PSB) since the beginning of my mayoralty."

The 2022 budget for the PUC has been approved by the water commission and the final 2022 budget for PSB will be at our council meeting on Monday."

"With those matters settled and in reflecting on the year ahead, it occurred to me that it would be prudent to give someone else on council the experience of sitting on these boards."

"Both are critical to our community and I think it would be beneficial to the respective organizations and the community at large if one or more of you (who are planning to run again) were able to develop experience with them."

"Of course, I am here and available to offer any ongoing assistance and support that is determined helpful," Provenzano told his councillors.

Provenzano was first elected in 2014 and re-elected with a 70 per cent landslide in 2018.

He has also been involved in federal politics, as the Sault's Liberal candidate in the 2006 and 2011 elections.

He also once served as chief of staff for former Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff.

There have been numerous unconfirmed rumours that Provenzano might seek higher office after his second mayoral term concludes.

A provincial election is expected on or before June 2 of this year.

The next federal election isn't expected until 2025.

This year's municipal election is on Oct. 24.

Provenzano didn't mention this year's municipal election in relation to stepping down from the two local boards, except to mention that councillors standing for re-election were welcome to apply to replace him there.

City Council is expected to choose PSB and PUC replacements for the mayor at a meeting on Monday, which will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.