Daily Archives: February 13, 2010

By Doug Draper

It’s a municipal election year and Niagara region’s council is on the verge of passing a budget for the year that would keep any increase on its portion of municipal taxes down to around zero.

A zero tax increase in an election year? Is that just a coincidence?

Some would say of course not.

They might say these councillors can now go out at election time and say; ‘Hey, look what we did this year. We kept the regional portion of your municipal taxes down to zero.’ Even if zero this year comes back to haunt us an big jump in taxes next year.

Others might say; ‘Hey, give the council a break. They are doing this because they are aware of all the joblessness out here, along with the all of the people struggling to get by on low and fixed incomes. They are feeling our pain.’

It is more likely that the decision the council approved this February 11 to beat down any increase on a regional budget for 2010 has something to do with all of the above. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

Niagara’s regional council has granted the proponents of pans for a mammoth NASCAR speedway complex some of the key approvals they need to build the speedway outside the town of Fort Erie’s urban boundaries.

One of the posters Fort Erie area residents have made up to protest NASCAR speedway project.

The council gave its blessings to amendments to the region’s policy plan and the town’s official plan – amendments that allow for such development on rural lands – despite a plea this February 11 from a citizens group to spend more time studying the impacts the speedway could have on the lives or nearby residents and farms before making any decisions.

“Amending the official plan at this point only results in hastily thrusting opponents, local governments and proponents into the expense and time commitments of an Ontario Municipal Board hearing,” Sandy Vant, head of CARS (Citizens Against Racing Speedway) warned the regional council. Continue reading →