Mayor Of Niagara, Ontario’s Largest Municipality Decides To Leave Politics

A News Brief by Doug Draper

When the mayor of the largest of Niagara, Ontario’s 12 local municipalities announces that he won’t run again, it is a big deal for people across the greater Niagara region.

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan announces he will not run again.

The announcement was circulated this April 1^st by St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan, who is mayor for a city that includes the largest block of representatives on Niagara’s regional council and – among other things – served during part of his two-year term as a key representative for a coalition of Canada/U.S. mayors for challenges affecting the health and welfare of the waters of our Great Lakes.

I may say that I have not always agreed with McMullan in his positions on issues of concern in St. Catharines and the larger Niagara region. But I almost must say that I found him to be a sincere person in politics at a time when politics has become too much of a pie-throwing contest.

One thing I do think I know from following McMullan over the years is that he began his public life as a manager of the then-fledgling Niagara Recycling that turned into the leading curbside recycling service Niagara offers across this region today. He did that job at a time when there were a huge amount of naysayers, including municipal and provincial politicians in this region, who argued that no one would ever use a Blue Box. 

He was also about the only mayoralty candidate in St. Catharines eight years ago who had the courage to question plans to tear down buildings in the city’s Port Dalhousie heritage district and replace them with a high-rise condo that has yet to be built. When I say courage, I mean that the developers of that project and other makers and shakers in the community were against him for taking that position. 

As mayor of one of the three Niagara municipalities, including Welland and Niagara Falls, who runs a bus transit system, he has also often shown himself to be more open than others to building a truly region-wide transit system – a vision that is yet to be fulfilled. In other words, Brian McMullan has often place a parochial hat aside to look at the interests of everyone living and working across the Niagara region.

So in an age when local politics has become fairly ugly and parochialism too often trumps the interests of residents across Niagara – north, south, east and west – I think we will miss Brian McMullan and may, unfortunately regret, who replaces him and others on our local and regional councils. 

I don’t mind saying this as a journalist who has been covering Niagara politics for 35 years – Brian McMullan has always seemed to me to be one very decent, stand-up guy. 

Now here is Mayor McMullan’s official announcement this April 1^st, 2014 that he is leaving municipal politics.

Mayor McMullan decides after two terms – mission accomplished

ST. CATHARINES, ON – Following an extensive political career, St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan has decided not to seek re-election and has chosen to pursue new opportunities in the private sector. 

“It has been a great honour to represent the citizens of St. Catharines,” said Mayor McMullan. “I’ve had the privilege of being part of a dedicated team focused on revitalization, infrastructure renewal and building a prosperous future. The unprecedented investments in our community have altered our landscape and changed the face, and the very heart, of our city. Truly, it’s been a pleasure to be part of this transformation in St. Catharines.”

Through fiscally responsible decisions, including zero-based budgeting and a long-term debt repayment plan – the City is in a good financial position. In addition, the City of St. Catharines will have a new revenue stream starting in 2018 when the Shickluna Hydro Generating Station comes online, he said.

Over the last two terms of Council, the City opened the Kiwanis Artificial Turf Field; Carlisle Street Parking Garage; Kiwanis Aquatics Centre; St. Catharines Fire Hall in Merritton; and started construction for the new Performing Arts Centre and Meridian Centre spectator facility which will open this September.

The City also updated its Official Plan, completed a comprehensive zoning bylaw and launched its Citizens First customer service centre.

“With the Creative Cluster Master Plan as a road map, the past two Councils have accomplished a large number of projects and initiatives; and many milestones have been achieved,” he added.

“Because of the decisions and steps we have taken the past eight years, I am confident our best years are truly yet to come. At the end of this year, I will direct my energy to a new and exciting opportunity.”

Mayor McMullan’s political career began in 1988 when he was elected to St. Catharines City Council to serve the residents of the Grantham Ward until 1997. He then went on to represent all of St. Catharines when he was elected in 2000 to serve on Niagara Regional Council.

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