In praise of Niagara Region’s ruling cabal

It’s too bad Regional Chairman Al Caslin doesn’t read local newspapers

I’m b-a-a-a-a-ck.

Relax, this is nothing permanent. Just a few therapeutic screeds during the municipal election campaign. Then I’ll disappear again.

You see, my psychiatrist, Dr. Quackenbush, suggested I write some columns to deal with the angst of watching the municipal political scene the past few months.

I said I wanted a second opinion. OK, he replied, you use too many exclamation points.

That’s ridiculous!

Sure, I might have been able to cope with the numerous nattering Niagara ninnies by consuming some bucka-beers made possible by Ontario strongman Doug Ford.

Then again, it would be just as tasty and even cheaper if I simply drank a few bottles of swamp water.

Anyway, it’s too bad Niagara Regional Chairman Al Caslin doesn’t read local newspapers. Because I wanted to start out by praising him and his cabal members for seemingly doing the impossible — creating interest in a regional council election.

Seriously, this may be unprecedented.

Prior to this votefest, if you asked the average Jack or Jill Niagaran their impressions or knowledge of regional government, they might guess it does the garbage pickup, fills the odd pothole, has something to do with the police and for 48 straight years has said it’s open for business.

Now, though, everyone knows it illegally seizes reporters’ computers and notes, is awash in code-of-conduct complaints, meddles politically in the affairs of local municipalities, supplies the majority of board members for the beleaguered Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, buys out police-chief contracts, gives crib notes to favoured CAO candidates and expresses befuddlement when the head of council unilaterally gives a contract extension to the

CAO.

True, I’m being selective here. Oh well.

What, you think 22 people have signed up to run for six St. Catharines regional seats because they like how the Region is advancing organizational excellence and want to be a part of it?

That’s right, 22 candidates. I could be wrong, but I believe that’s more names than in the Wainfleet phone book.

And these aren’t John (Ringo) Beam-type hopefuls. It’s almost an embarrassment of riches, a slate full of well-known, committed and/or accomplished citizens, activists and politicians.

See, I told you the cabal deserved some praise.

OK, I know what you’re thinking. It’s not right to compliment the cabal, without actually identifying the individual members.

To be fair then — an occasional must for me over the years — names will be offered.

From time to time during this term, some councillors have played footsie with the cabal, but I hesitate to honour them with full membership. I’d rather draw attention to the true-blue loyalists.

What, you think 22 people have signed up to run for six St. Catharines regional seats because they like how the Region is advancing organizational excellence and want to be a part of it?

And they are: Caslin, of course; Niagara Falls Couns. Bob Gale, Bart Maves and Selina Volpatti; St. Catharines Couns. Bruce Timms and Andy Petrowski; Fort Erie Coun. Sandy Annunziata; Grimsby Coun. Tony Quirk; Port Colborne Coun. Dave Barrick; and Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs.

Of these members, Maves, Barrick, Petrowski and Jeffs are not seeking re-election. And, of course, Petrowski, who greatly benefited from these enablers this term, has been on medical leave since last December.

(By the way, it was Barrick who said recently it is the leaking of information to the media that is “eroding public trust” in the Region rather than the revealed information itself. Sheesh, a thousand comedians out of work and we’ve got a regional councillor telling jokes.)

So, we can only offer our thanks to this Fab Four for their roles in heightening public interest in Niagara regional affairs.

As for the remaining Smug Six, Niagara residents have the opportunity to more directly show their level of appreciation for the gang when casting ballots on Oct. 22.

But don’t forget to ask the other candidates their thoughts on the cabal. You might want to reward/ punish them, too.

Thank you, Dr. Quackenbush! dherod.niagara@gmail.com