Region trying to ‘move the needle’ at Queen’s Park

Items to be discussed may include support for a consolidated housing master plan and shared service initiative and sustainable funding for provincially mandated programs

Preparations are underway at Niagara Region headquarters for Niagara Week, the advocacy event that offers councillors and staff opportunity to meet face-to-face with the premier and his cabinet at Queen’s Park. Beginning May 13, Niagara officials will showcase local priorities and identify specific projects for provincial partnership and co-investment.

The meetings with provincial leaders last 30 to 60 minutes, unlike the much shorter windows for engagement afforded by big intergovernmental conferences.

“We are taking all of council’s feedback into consideration when designing this year’s program,” Daryl Barnhart, the Region chair’s chief of staff, said during a recent council meeting. “We’re making a number of changes based on some of the feedback we heard.”

Last Niagara Week, there were 10 in-person meetings. Among results was the premier’s verbal commitment to help with the $400-million South Niagara Falls Wastewater Project, the largest infrastructure project in the Region’s history.

Niagara Week 2024 will kick off with an MPP reception at the legislature that, with help from Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, will showcase the region’s economic potential and provide a networking opportunity with provincial officials.

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said the province has already indicated it would contribute onethird of the cost of the event if the federal government also participates. Redekop said one target should be the infrastructure needs of the Region and the area municipalities to facilitate anticipated growth.

“If we’re going to spend time and money at Queen’s Park, I think we ought to focus on some things that will move the needle significantly for us, and infrastructure is a major concern here across the board,” he said.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Laord Mayor Gary Zalepa said it’s essential to keep the focus on issues that are part of the regional or local government mandate.

“We need to focus on making it germane to major infrastructure and the opening up of housing availability, which is a massive policy item that we’re concerned about in our strategic plan,” Zalepa said.

Items to be discussed may include support for the Region’s consolidated housing master plan and shared service initiative and sustainable funding for provincially mandated programs.