The Garden City Refugee

The Job No One Wants

August 24, 2026

In case you missed it, and judging from the lack of interest, you have, the deadline to register as a candidate in the upcoming municipal election has come and gone.

And no bigger “name” candidate stepped forward to challenge Mat Sendzcoe Siscoe for the mayor’s chair here in St. Catharines.

Which is shocking, to say the least.

Long before the flooding and sewer back-up issues, Sendzcoe Siscoe was a sitting duck for any serious candidate who wanted the top job. Way in over his head, Sendzcoe Siscoe has a lot of gall even asking for another term. He sure hasn’t earned it. His tenure has been an absolute disaster. The recent crisis has only highlighted how woefully underqualified he is for the job. You’d think someone in that position would at least learn a little after being on the job for four years. But he hasn’t. If anything, he’s regressed. If he has the courage to go out and knock on doors, I can’t imagine the kind of flak he’s going to get from angry residents, knee deep in sewage and taxed up the wazoo. To be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations. Watch the sparks fly.

All I can figure is that those in the know figure the result is a foregone conclusion. Not because Sendzcoe Siscoe is so popular. Quite the contrary. Given a fair election, a half-decent candidate could probably win just running on one key platform. “I’m Not Mat Siscoe.”

But because City staff are in control of the voting machines.

Staff who want to keep the gravy train going. A gravy train Sendzcoe Siscoe will keep powering.

Which means Sendzcoe Siscoe isn’t going to be returning to the classroom any time soon.

In the meantime, hang on to your wallet.

It’s not going to be pretty.