Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates Continues Fight For Local Election

“Only the people of Niagara know what’s best for Niagara, not a government who keeps cooking up secret backroom deals. …When exactly and with whom did the government consult on their decision to cancel the Niagara regional chair election?”       – Wayne Gates

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

Posted August 2nd 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates. File photo

Niagara Falls, Ontario  – NDP MPP Wayne Gates continued to fight for the right of the residents of Niagara to be able to elect their Regional Chair after the race was cancelled by Premier Ford last week.

 “The people of the Niagara region want to have a say in who will represent them for the next four years. The government would have known that, if they had bothered to consult anyone before they decided they know what’s best for Niagara.”

“Well, I have news for this government. Only the people of Niagara know what’s best for Niagara, not a government who keeps cooking up secret backroom deals,” said Gates. “When exactly and with whom did the government consult on their decision to cancel the Niagara regional chair election?”

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark retorted that he considered the election to be the consultation and any concerns with the cancelling of the Regional Chair election they should bring it up at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting on August 19th.

 “The antidemocratic action of this government is disrespectful to the people of Niagara. We deserve to have our say on who is going to represent us. We will not go unheard,” said Gates.

“Will this government allow municipalities in the Niagara region to pose a referendum question to their constituents regarding the future election or appointment of their regional chair?”

Clark once again indicated that a referendum was not necessary as the province had just come out of an election which would suffice but once again said the issue was would be discussed at AMO.

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