Poll editorial shows media bias

RE: EDITORIAL: POLL SHEDS LIGHT ABOUT ATTITUDES ON REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, AUG. 9

If anyone doubted that Niagara’s media is now totally in bed with the present regional government, doing whatever they want and without reference to the electorate, this opinion piece can only confirm it.

For example, these quotes: “An Environics Research poll conducted for Niagara Region recently found that people are OK with the status quo,” and, “The survey was conducted from May 30 through June 17, throughout all corners of Niagara.” Really? The poll, paid for by Niagara’s taxpayers, polled just 832 Niagara residents — or less than two per cent of the approximate population of the region in 2017, so likely an exaggerated percentage in 2019.

This is claimed as public input and a serious poll, the story an unbiased opinion piece.

I do agree with the editorial writer that reducing the number of politicians would do little to cure Niagara’s endemic and ongoing dysfunction.

Politicians may be part of the problem, but they pale in comparison to the undemocratic actions of the growing bureaucratic army of unelected regional staff who continue to direct politicians too lazy to question them.

If our Niagara politicians are serious about coming up with a realistic, economic argument to the Ford provincial government, closing down Niagara regional government and giving the existing 12 municipalities upper-tier status should be a no-brainer.

Each municipality would immediately benefit by a near-double increase in their annual budget without any negative impacts.

Go public, all you mayors and councillors, do your jobs as our elected representatives and ask your own constituents.

If a single one of you comes up with a 70 per cent-plus support for regional government and continuing the status quo, then there is absolutely nothing the provincial government can impose on Niagara that can reverse the dysfunctional economic decline under the current regime. Andrew Watts Wainfleet