Regional council is an embarrassment

I am tired. I am so tired of asking regional council to follow a code of conduct. To treat residents with respect. To follow through on their promises. To remember that young people are watching them and that their behaviour has an impact.

I have no problem when councillors disagree with my point of view or with one another, but I do take issue when councillors block citizens from participating in the conversation — this has happened to me on two occasions.

I became engaged in regional politics when a councillor used social media to spread hateful comments in an attempt to isolate some citizens from the greater Niagara population. I quickly realized that it was a symptom of a much greater problem. I asked for a response from every regional councillor and only a few replied and their responses were very disappointing.

Some argued that freedom of speech supersedes any code, as does freedom of religion. To me that is an ignorant, insulting response.

We also have laws that are there to protect each of us from hate speech — these councillors should get familiar with the Criminal Code.

Here’s what I’ve been told by some regional councillors: Having an integrity commissioner will cost the taxpayers a lot of money; A lot of complainers are people who lost in elections; This is spin and nothing more; and, if I don’t like what a councillor has to say I should commence a lawsuit.

This year Niagara Region plans to spend $1.6 billion. Having an integrity commissioner present will cost the taxpayers less than 0.0015 per cent of that … so it’s obviously not about money.

I am truly embarrassed that this group is representing our Region. Haley Bateman St. Catharines