Expensive system

Re: Regional councillors cost Niagara taxpayers $1.8 million last year, March 20

Earnings, benefits and expenses for Niagara Region councillors cost local taxpayers just shy of $1.8 million last year. Figure in each of the 12 mayors who not only sit on regional council but are also paid by their lower-tier municipality, plus mileage and any boards they sit on for the community and any conferences they attend.

On top of this, factor in the cost of the remaining lowertier politicians. In total, we have 126 politicians, some who sit on both upper- and lower-tier municipal councils, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

This current governance structure is not only very expensive for taxpayers but it is not an effective governance model as local politicians continue to be preoccupied with protecting and enhancing their own lower-tier municipality. Many of their decisions are made for the benefit of their lower-tier municipality, at the expense of other lower-tier and the upper-tier municipalities.

This governance model does nothing to move Niagara as a whole forward.

As an example, many local politicians attending the steering committee meetings spoke about how the current model was not effective and changes were needed. Although the province has indicated local politicians have the capacity to institute governance changes, those same local politicians do not have the capacity or willingness to institute change themselves. It’s no surprise, many local taxpayers feel like they are being held hostage.

Significant governance reform is needed to reduce duplication of services. Clearly the only way this will happen is with provincial intervention.

Allen McKay, St. Catharines