By Doug Draper
In his first State of the Region address as Niagara, Ontario’s regional chair, Gary Burroughs told hundreds of people packing a banquet hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake this March 25 that he would like to see regional council begin discussions before the end of this year on how all of Niagara might better be governed.
Gary Burroughs takes questions from reporters following his 'State of the Region' address. Photo by Doug Draper
“We need to focus on sustainability and our ability to pay. … We need to recommit to looking at the way we do business and the way we do business (and) this may mean reviewing governance issues which impact on how we do business,” said Burroughs.
“Governance means different things to almost everyone in this room (and) I would like to begin addressing those governance issues in 2011 and I am determined to face those questions head on,” he added to a round of applause from many of those attending the St. Catharines Standard-Thorold Chamber of Commerce-hosted State of the Region event.
In a scrum with reporters following his address, Burroughs, a former Niagara-on-the-Lake lord mayor and regional councillor, said he is prepared to chair discussions on everything from whether the individual who sits in his own seat should be elected by the voters at large (as opposed to being elected by members of council) to whether we should replace the current regional government and 12 local municipalities with “one city of Niagara.”
Burroughs said he believes the council also needs to look at which levels of municipal government should be delivering such services as water and wastewater, transit services, economic development and others – all with an eye to looking at what is in the best interest, economically and from a quality-of-life point of view – for all residents of Niagara.
All of this, said Burroughs, must be discussed and debated in an “open and transparent way” so that residents across the region are “engaged” (a word he used a number of times during his address to say he wants as many Niagara residents as may be interested involved in the discussion on where the region goes into the future.).
The remarks by this new regional chair represent a significant change in tone from the previous regional administration of Peter Partington, where almost any kind of talk of amalgamating services like transit or economic development or, God forbid, amalgamating municipalities was off the table.
Burroughs also referred to our region’s “kids” during his address, stressing the need for all parties in government, business and other areas to work together to build a Niagara that offers them a promise of decent jobs and a quality life.
After mentioning that this year’s regional budget actually offers a reduction in property taxes (1.37 percent) on the region’s portion of the bill for the average ratepayer, he had this interesting thing to say about making budget cuts; “Balancing the demands of service delivery obligations with infrastructure improvement and ever-increasing regulations, while respecting the taxpayer ‘s ability to pay, is not an easy task. Council is facing difficult choices in the term ahead and we do not take that responsibility lightly. Making reckless cuts to vital services does not help support our families, our communities, or build a stronger economy. As I recently heard it put, ‘you can’t cut your way to strength’.”
To read the full text of Niagara regional chair Gary Burroughs’s State of the Region address click on http://www.niagararegion.ca/chair/state-of-the-region.aspx .
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During the last municipal election the buzz word was (sustainable development) this is something thats has eluded every country and state /Province ever since the industrial age started, the reality is we have boom and bust as the norm, we are the bust phase right now and an econmic meltdown is fast approaching , all over the world. War does get something moving, killing people is good for business, trade between USA and Canada is at a 28 year low, so much for NAFTA. like Norm Puttick suggested Niagara Riding should be one big city, the Provincial Review of 1972 /73 the Province designated Niagara tourism and recreational for our area, so no more manufacturing on our radar.Do we need a disscussion? yes we do,about time I say.
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Amalgamation has been a disaster in every Ontario jurisdiction. The Region already takes 50% of property tax money. St Catharines and NOTL get the largest shares, while the rest of small communities get to pay.
In real life success is rewarded, while failure is punished. Yet government rewards success and failure equally — with even more government. The idea that big is better is nonsense when it comes to government. Big is only more expensive — NOT better.
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Doug,bottom line the World is in turmoil period.Canada,Ontario,Niagara…trickles right down to our little hometowns.Take it to the lowest common denominator,the family.There’s something wrong with the whole picture,regardless of what size screen you’re watching it on!Sadly this condition will not improve by itself.You are someone who I know to be extremely sensative to these critical issues,your site is a wealth of information,I’m certain as you shave daily you question your reflection. Job well done Mr.Draper keep it up!
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