‘There’s the reason why we need a supervisor’

Heit frustrated by NPCA response to information request

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority isn’t making it easy for Niagara Region council, in response to a motion asking for confidential information about severances paid to former workers.

And St. Catharines Coun. Brian Heit said the “arrogance” exhibited by the organization in its response further stresses the need for a provincially appointed supervisor.

Niagara Region council approved a motion in early March asking the NPCA provide regional council with all costs associated with former NPCA staff who lost their jobs at the agency from 2014 to 2017.

Last week — nearly a month after the Region’s June 6 deadline for the requested information — NPCA chief administrative officer Mark Brickell responded by sending a letter dated July 4 reminding regional council that they have no oversight of the organization’s budget, and the requested information is protected by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Brickell, however, also recommended that the Region, all 12 municipalities and all agencies, boards and commissions appointed by the Region meet to discuss the request and develop an appropriate response.

“Once we have done so and all parties have agreed to release, subject to legal review, said in-

formation, relating to the past five years, NPCA will be willing to do the same,” he wrote.

The letter also points out initiatives the organization has put in place — such as live-streamed meetings and a recently launched npcadialogue.ca website — making it “the most transparent Conservation Authority in the province,” Brickell wrote.

Heit, whose March 1 motion calling for the information was supported with a vote of 18-5, was frustrated with the NPCA’s response.

“We have 10 people that sit on the Region of Niagara that represent us on that (NPCA) board and they ignored the request of all of council, whether they liked it or not.”

A request to the agency for comment went unanswered.

Although the NPCA is a direct levying body and does not require Niagara Region budget oversight, Heit pointed out that Niagara Regional Police also fall into that category – and police were upfront providing information about severances paid to former police chief Jeffrey McGuire.

“They at least came forward with comments because it was requested by council,” he said. “They had the courtesy to at least answer us and we didn’t have to make a formal motion, like I did.”

In comparison, Heit said the NPCA board members “just ignored us and said give us our money, thank you very much. We don’t have to talk to you.”

“There’s the reason why we need a supervisor,” he added.

Heit plans to introduce a motion at the next council meeting, hoping to add the Niagara Region to a growing number of municipal governments that have called on the provincial government to appoint a supervisor to oversee operations at the local conservation authority.