NOTL against Kaiser’s transportation appointment
Niagara-on-the-Lake regional Coun. Andrea Kaiser has been a small-business owner, a local councillor for 11 years and, in 2022, won the town’s regional council election with 44 per cent of the vote.
So it was somewhat eyebrow-raising when town council, during its Tuesday meeting, voted 5-4 against appointing Kaiser to Niagara Region’s transportation strategy steering committee.
“I was a little surprised,” Kaiser said in an interview. “(Being the regional council representative) is to be the regional voice for residents. But under no circumstances would I agree to a caveat to be on the board by others.”
Kaiser said she put her name forward to sit on the committee representing Niagara-on-the-Lake at the request of another individual.
“I have about 30 years of working in this community,” she said.
But during the town council meeting, Coun. Sandra O’Connor said she couldn’t support Kaiser because she had publicly supported the St. Davids roundabout, a project town council has opposed.
Councillors had approved a motion calling on the Region to install a stop light at the York Road and Four Mile Creek Road intersection. Despite residents’ opposition, the Region is moving forward to build a roundabout.
“So how can she represent council on this committee if it is against council’s wishes? I cannot support this appointment,” said O’Connor.
Coun. Gary Burroughs, who also voted against Kaiser’s appointment, said he believed a town councillor should be appointed to the committee.
Deputy lord mayor Erwin Wiens defended Kaiser’s application, saying she is a Niagara-on-the-Lake resident who has previously represented residents.
“She is doing a wonderful job representing Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Wiens. “Her job is to look at what is best for Niagara-on-theLake.”
He said to single out one issue — in this case, the St. Davids roundabout — is to “disavow someone based on one incident because of a political decision.”
“It doesn’t make sense to do that.” Kaiser confirmed she did talk to O’Connor about her position on the roundabout. She refused to support the town’s position to delay the roundabout if she was appointed to the steering committee.
“I am elected (to regional council) to make the best decisions I can,” said Kaiser. “I was very uncomfortable with the suggestion.”
The proposed 25-member transportation strategic steering committee is intended to advise staff and regional council on policies, programs and initiatives related to building and planning “balanced and sustainable transportation systems.”
Of the 25 members on the committee, there will be one local or regional councillor representing each municipality, eight representatives from the public and four individuals from Niagara Region’s transportation department.
The area of focus for the committee includes active transportation, strategy transportation planning, such as road safety and vision zero, GO rail expansion and the Niagara Region Transportation Master Plan. Various goals the committee will be examining include the advancement of a Niagara to Greater Toronto Area corridor, active transportation, complete streets and the Greater Niagara Circle Route.
Kaiser said the transportation committee does not specifically address roundabouts, including the one for St. Davids.