“Many Niagara-on-the-Lake residents may be unaware that this year’s municipal election could fundamentally change how decisions are made in their community,” writes the NOTL Residents Association.
A bad deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Canada to the U.S., “is not in Canada’s national interests, but we cannot simply walk away from this structure,” writes Keith McNenly.
“If Congress fails to act when danger is plain, then the constitutional balance the founders designed is reduced to words on paper,” writes Keith McNenly.
“Without hard boundaries including progressive taxation and dissolution of monopolies, oligarchy will continue to deconstruct society until elections, law, and truth become historical artifacts,” writes Keith McNenly.
“Canadians have the right to access diverse ideas, literature and viewpoints without censorship, allowing libraries, schools, bookstores and readers to explore both popular and controversial works,” write Susan Elliott and Dr. Robin Williams Foster.
“Boasts aside, the authoritarian holds only a single card — the joker’s trick of chaos and distraction. The real deck is large. Americans hold roughly 340 million cards,” writes Keith McNenly.
“Easing congestion wasn’t council’s main rationale for leaning toward a garage at 176 Wellington — money is. Council members either believe or were led to believe that parking will bring in piles of it,” writes David Israelson.
“Authoritarian forces are aligning across borders, and the free world again needs coherent leadership. Canada’s message, in that context, has been clarity of purpose,” writes Keith McNenly.
“The Ford government is spending millions upon millions on private planes, private spas and handouts to developers, while our public services crumble and life gets increasingly unaffordable for families in Ontario,” writes Wayne Gates.
“There are important moments when a community must decide not only what to build, but how — and with whom. Niagara-on-the-Lake is in one of those moments,” writes Susan St Amand.
“The most dangerous species on Earth was not conquered. It was befriended, one household at a time, by a creature sometimes small enough to fit in your arms and wise enough to require your best self,” writes Keith McNenly.
“Fort Mississauga stands as a tower of strength on Lake Ontario. Built just after the War of 1812, this unique site reflects 150 years of British and Canadian military activity,” writes Tony Chisholm.
“It all really boils down to one thing: if you’re a voter in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the province wants to hear less than ever from you about decisions that affect your town,” writes David Israelson.
“Democracy can be messy. It can take time. But that process is exactly what ensures decisions reflect the people they impact,” writes Wayne Gates.
“Taken together, Putin and Trump can be seen as pursuing compatible projects in different hemispheres,” writes Keith McNenly, citing the consolidation of influence through coercion, leverage and military aggression; treating sovereignty as negotiable and more.
“Not all can, or even wish to, pursue the gold standard of assisted living. Care should be taken to remain sensitive to the needs of the less affluent and to avoid a tendency for “high-end,” high-profile housing proposals,” writes Michael Ennamorato.
“As decisions are made about the future of 176 Wellington, I hope there is room to consider what it could mean for young people in this community to have a place that reflects their potential,” writes Andorlie Hillstrom.
“Among areas of consensus, there are some important ‘universals’ shared by virtually all NOTL seniors. It is clear, for instance, that the large majority share a desire to age in their current community and, ideally, within their current neighbourhood,” writes Michael Ennamorato.
“Will NOTL’s council ever be ready to consider other options for this public property? Based on what we’ve seen so far, you don’t what you’ve got till it’s gone,” writes David Israelson.
“Do you think that people in Niagara should have less ability to find out what the government is doing on these files behind closed doors? I certainly don’t,” writes Wayne Gates.
“The irony is that Gale’s resignation leaves Niagara Region better off, but not for the reasons he resigned. These reasons relate to his job, not his peccadillos,” writes David Israelson.
“Our local leaders should think boldly and speak clearly. It’s time to dream — otherwise, someone else will be dreaming for us,” writes David Israelson.
“Amalgamation was intended to deliver ‘better, more efficient government at less cost to the taxpayer.’ But, 25 years later, Hamilton residents are still waiting,” writes Ken Bosveld.
“Amalgamation with local adjacent municipalities with failing infrastructure will result in higher cost of living, more taxes and less service,” writes Richard Connelly.
The representatives of small governments like NOTL “aren’t ‘politicians’ of the ilk perceived by Premier Ford, with offices in glass palaces and numerous staff,” writes Keith McNenly, “but community members representing community members.”
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