Frustration led to ‘block the trains’ call: Craitor
Mayoral challenger responds to questions over railways, political experience, transparency
Note: Despite repeated requests, Coun. Kim Craitor declined to be interviewed for this story but offered written answers. The story is based on those as well as previous news articles.
REGARDING THE LONGTIME problem of trains passing through Niagara Falls, and holding up traffic, what did you mean when you said we should “block” the trains? You said it twice during debates – how do you propose to block the trains? “My comment on blocking the trains has certainly drawn attention – and that was the point,” Craitor said in his written response. “The rail lines have people that monitor the media reports … I bet my comments have gotten their attention.”
Earlier this year Craitor, and the rest of council, hired outside consultants to report on the problem of trains holding up traffic and sometimes breaking down in the city.
Consultants reported the most cost-effective answer is to negotiate with CN and CP to reroute trains out of the city.
Talks have started, and the city has prepared a business case showing it’s in the companies’ interest to avoid Niagara Falls’ urban areas over safety and liability issues.
In his written response, Craitor said his call to block trains was based on “frustration over the city engaging in a consultant’s study, at a cost to the taxpayers.”
He said he worries CN will use study results to “say the problem really isn’t that bad.” He said public pressure on CN and CP is needed to get the railways to act.
Craitor couldn’t be reached for comment to clarify whether he would support building one or more overpasses – at an estimated cost of $25 million each – if the railways won’t change their routes. HOW CAN YOU BE an agent of change when you’ve spent 17 years on council – including the past four years – and 10 as MPP?
“You will get change from me in how the council business is conducted: more meetings, more public input into the budget process, greater transparency on spending of the OLG funds,” he said.
“I will vote as mayor not just on recorded or tied votes, (push for) less closed-door meetings, and no signing memorandums of understanding without council’s knowledge.
“Finally you won’t see me in a $22,000 taxpayer-funded video showing off my acting chops.”
Some of the changes he wants, however, require council’s agreement. Craitor wasn’t available to comment on how he would make them happen.
For example, a vote of full council is required before council can go in private to discuss a matter, and the Municipal Act regulates what can be discussed behind closed doors.
Also, near the end of each year council votes to approve its meeting schedule for the next year. Last year, Craitor seconded the motion approving this year’s council meeting schedule.
“This year has also demonstrated that I am about as different from Jim as can be,” Craitor said in his written response.
“I certainly would not have been in favour of the things he’s been in favour of at the Region or Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (hiring of the CAO, not penalizing Coun. Andy Petrowski for code of conduct breaches, the NPCA suing citizen Ed Smith for bringing up valid concerns).” HOW CAN YOU CALL for more transparency when you waited three years to disclose the reason you quit as MPP, and not for exhaustion as you first stated?
“I have already answered this question many times, so my answer to this question remains the same,” Craitor said in his written response.
Craitor could not be reached to clarify his answer, and there appears to be no record of any public explanation by him for why he allowed the misinformation to linger for three years.
Craitor resigned as Liberal MPP in September 2013, saying he was “totally exhausted.” In a byelection that cost $400,000, Wayne Gates of the NDP won the Niagara Falls seat vacated by Craitor. Then in 2014 Craitor was elected to city council.
Three years later in May 2016 the public learned through a Toronto Star article the real reason Craitor resigned was over allegations of sexual harassment and bullying made against him by a former member of his staff – allegations Craitor has strongly denied.
In his written responses, Craitor said he’s a strong advocate for open government and “we have seen over this past council term, whether at the city, Region or NPCA, a lack of transparency has eroded the public trust in local government.
“Behind-the-scenes lobbying related to Thundering Waters and biodiversity offsetting, a lack of transparency related to the pursuit of a university (entrepreneurial incubator in downtown Niagara Falls) and the process behind the hiring of the CAO at the Region … (have) proven detrimental to our image in Niagara.”