Fort Erie ‘poised for greatness’: Annunziata
Sandy Annunziata says being in a spotlight focused by critics of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) hasn’t impacted his commitment to Fort Erie at regional council.
For most of 2017, the NPCA was the subject of scrutiny from various politicians in Niagara, as well as Ed Smith, a Niagara resident who alleged conflict of interest and questionable contracting practices within the NPCA through a report he authored in 2016.
A lawsuit was filed by the NPCA against Smith, which was recently dismissed in court.
“It’s been a lot of heavy lifting,” Annunziata said when asked if the issues he faced as chair of the NPCA in the last year were a distraction from the rest of his responsibilities as a regional councillor.
He said people should pay attention to the NPCA’s budget coming in with a five per cent reduction, a plan to plant one million trees, an agreement struck with the Metis Nation, the revision of a memorandum of understanding at the NPCA that has been untouched for a decade, an apportionment structure between Niagara and Hamilton he says will save “millions of dollars,” and more, as the NPCA’s greatest highlights for 2017.
“If you look at all the distraction I’ve faced as the chair, we’ve accomplished so much at the NPCA,” he said Friday.
Aside from the controversy at the NPCA, Annunziata said Fort Erie is at the “top of mind” at Niagara Region.
A two per cent increase to the regional portion of property owners’ tax bill, a $22-million reconstruction of Dominion Road, the completion of $16 million in work on Central Avenue and its bridge leading into the Bridgeburg core, the acquisition of the former County Fair Mall for Gilmore Lodge and an accompanying long-term care hub, $3 million for intermunicipal transit, a new health clinic on Garrison Road, $850,000 from the Region for a $2-million project at Bay Beach – these are some of the accomplishments Annunziata listed as being the most important for the town in the last year.
Annunziata says Fort Erie is “poised for greatness” and that he has a lot of “unfinished business,” when asked what his aspirations are for the upcoming 2018 municipal election.
“I’m working on things right now to make sure we solidify our place, not only in Niagara, but certainly all of Ontario,” said Annunziata.
“Those are things I’m focusing on right now.”
Annunziata was a municipal councillor in Fort Erie from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, he sought the Progressive Conservative nomination for the Niagara Falls riding but was not selected.