(A Brief Note from Niagara At Large – Now it is official with the nomination of Niagara Falls city councillor and CAW Local 199 president Wayne Gates to run as the NDP candidate in a Niagara Falls Riding by-election that could say a lot about the outcome of a general election in the province, expected as soon as this coming spring.
Wayne Gates speaks at rally for saving hospital services in South Niagara. File photo
Gates will be running against fellow Niagara Falls city councillor and Liberal candidate Joyce Morocco and Niagara Falls regional councillor and former Conservative MPP Bart Maves, who will once again hold the banner for the Tories in this riding.
The voters of this riding will go to the polls this coming February 13th. In the meantime, here is some news from the NDP camp on Gates’ nomination.)
Submitted by the NDP campaign for Wayne Gates
Niagara Falls, Ontario – In a hall packed with supporters Niagara Falls city councillor Wayne Gates earned the NDP nomination for Niagara Falls riding in a by-election to be held on February 13th. Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath spoke to the enthusiastic crowd:
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that my friend Wayne Gates has stepped forward to accept the NDP nomination for the riding of Niagara Falls,” said Horwath. “He knows how to work with all levels of government and he knows what it means to be a working person in Niagara. Wayne Gates cares about creating and protecting jobs and improving healthcare. He will deliver results.”
During her regular visits to Niagara Horwath has met with residents concerned about high unemployment and cuts to healthcare services. She said that people from Niagara Falls to Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake and everywhere in between are telling her that they feel let down by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government and unimpressed by Tim Hudak’s extreme views. In this by-election she encouraged everybody to support Wayne Gates, a local leader who will work hard for every community in the riding at Queen’s Park.
“I’m honoured to be the NDP candidate for the riding of Niagara Falls and I’m hitting the ground running,” said Gates. “People here need good jobs now not later. We need a new hospital. We don’t need any more excuses. We need results. We don’t need any more empty promises from the Wynne Liberals. We need action.”
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
Congratulations Wayne and the NDP!
Tim Hudak deserted the Niagara Falls riding for a safer seat, Kathleen Wynne is trying to buy the votes in NOTL and Niagara Falls. She is giving employment to the seasonal workers in NOTL; rather than provide continued employment in Fort Erie. She ignores proposals by the horse racing industry in Fort Erie to keep it going. Wynne is trying to buy Niagara Falls residents with the promise of a hospital. How many more years before the shovel is in the ground? Check the timeline for the planning and building of the St. Catharines Hospital.
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A UNION guy in a position of political influence!!! Isn’t it the unions (police, fire, regional, municipal …..) that have driven up human resource costs that have in turn driven up property taxes in this region and province? Wasn’t it a union (teachers) that blackmailed the provincial government into using high priced teachers for full day KINDERCARE to the tune of Billions?
I know I could go on….. but do I really need to?
Doesn’t anyone else see a problem with this? If not you don’t pay taxes!
Just sayin…..
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If the NDP win in Niagara, Andrea Horvath will pull the plug on the Liberals, so a spring election will soon follow. could be a good time to vote for the Greens.Why not? Kim Craitor basically ran as an Independant last election.
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Government gives tax breaks to corporations. Corporations take the money back home, say “Thank you”. When they feel they no longer benefit from the “gravy train” they close the plant (perhaps “idle the plant”) and move. As a result the Government receives a double blow: 1) no benefit from low tax handout; 2) have to care for those put out of work.
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Recently, in fact just last night, on CBS it was disclosed the 85 of the wealthiest people in the world control more wealth the 3.1 Billion poor folk. That these same 85 control 46% of the total wealth of the world and these are facts from an organization that is the mouth piece for the wealthy. I have listened to Greg spew out bias propaganda and it is sickening to have to listen too……Yes !! Most Certainly there are Unions that have become greedy aided by a government that is only in power because the so called teachers and Yes the others you noted vote with the pocket books with little or no thought for Canadians they are, as sheppards supposed to be protecting, Yes!! Greg there are very greedy corporation Unions but there are also unions that fight for a living wage against Trillon Dollar corporations like a Walmart and others.
If you feel you have to rant Greg go both ways and don’t tar and feather all because because they have formed an entitlement alliance with the Corporate governments of this country..Thus a thought Greg are you one of those 85 mentioned by CBS or are you just one who wants class distinction widened? You seem to be
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Biased Propaganda!!!???? Nothing but the truth whether you like it or not. I am equally critical of all government parties at all levels, all unions and all special interest groups.
Am I to suspect you are one of those people I call NET-TAX-CONSUMERS (people who consume more in government services than they pay or will ever pay in taxes)? If so, I can understand why you object to my rants which are designed to wake people up!
Let me ask you this Joseph…. without the people who CREATE businesses and jobs where would we be? If it was so easy why doesn’t the various unions out there create businesses.
As for your Walmart analogy, what do you think a reasonable wage is to operate a cash register? All of you union proponents need to understand if you have not made yourself desirable as a human resource through training and education, you reap what you sow. A low paying job and job instability.
The days of making $40 an hour to pump out parts on an assembly line are long-gone! Why should Walmart allow a union to establish itself in its operations if it doesn’t want to? Put yourself in their shoes.
And no I am not one of those 85 people. Wish I was. If they EARNED their fortunes HONESTLY, I admire them. It would be useful for everyone to remember that they have paid more in taxes a year than the normal person will pay in a 1000 lifetimes and that a persons success is only limited by their motivation! That motivation and success is something no one nowhere should attempt to discourage and unions do that by creating an environment of entitlement in the eyes of the worker. How screwed up things must be when the worker tells the employer how much they are going to make when there are lineups for these jobs!
Just respondin………and explainin.
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Mr. Gearge Middleton writes,” It would be useful for everyone to remember that they have paid more in taxes a year than the normal person will pay in a 1000 lifetimes and that a persons success is only limited by their motivation!” I respectfully disaggree…read Linda McQuaigs 1987 book,” Behind Closed Doors..How The Rich Won Control of Canada’s Tax System..And Ended Up Richer”. In Canada, Corporations have the second lowest rate of taxation in the G7.
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Fascists do not tolerate unions; Communists do not tolerate unions; proxy dictatorships (i.e Honduras) do not tolerate unions; the globalized corporatocracy does not tolerate unions. Unions deprive financial speculators and transnational corporations of some of their god-given profits. I prefer to live in a society where unions provide a voice for workers/producers and some political might. In other words, a democracy. Where does that leave most of us? As far as I’m concerned, Canada is no longer a democracy. We can argue about this and that, but we’re about to lose universal healthcare, and much more. We’re on the highway racing to the bottom, and our corporate masters love it. We can play their game, or we can move towards a more equitable business model, such as what we had about 30 years ago. The libs and cons prefer that we remain divided and weak. It’s up to us.
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Mr. W. Gates – Good luck in your election against Mr. Maves. and Mrs. Joyce Morocco. If what you share from the podium is honest, sincere and from the heart you will have done your best.
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