Dear editor:
The electioneering is, thankfully, over. The people have spoken, and a new, smaller council has been elected.
Congratulations to Vaughn, Gary, Sandra, Weston, Andrew, Steve and Tim. You have been entrusted with helping guide Niagara-on-the-Lake into the next stage of its evolution, at a time when public confidence in politics and politicians is being challenged.
You have been given an opportunity that few people experience: to put yourselves under constant public scrutiny in the hope of making a positive difference for the greater good.
NOTL faces several issues that will require your immediate attention.
First, there is the need to secure provincial approval of the town’s official plan. That final step must not be forgotten. Without provincial approval, the new plan remains unfinished, and the town continues to operate under the 2017 plan.
Second, stormwater continues to flow into places it was never intended to reach: people’s basements. Finding effective solutions must be a priority. It will not be an easy task, but residents deserve to see meaningful progress.
And those are just two of the challenges ahead. Planning and development, zoning, bylaw enforcement, parking, overtourism and the escalating cost of police services are among the many other issues that will demand attention. The list goes on.
As our new council begins tackling these and other challenges, let’s remember that those elected are our friends, our neighbours and residents just like the rest of us.
Many have made significant personal sacrifices, including putting their retirement plans and personal time on hold, to help make our community a better place to live. They deserve our support and respect for stepping forward to serve.
Whether you voted for these individuals or not, let’s dial back the social media nastiness, the snide remarks and, in some cases, the downright offensive personal attacks. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We are better than that.
To those who worked hard but were not elected, Erwin, Maria and Adriana, thank you for your contributions and past service. And to Rick, Nicholas and Karen, thank you for stepping up to the plate and putting yourselves forward for public service. You represented yourselves well, and your willingness to participate in our democratic process deserves recognition.
Finally, I want to thank my colleagues on the board of directors of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Residents Association, our dedicated committee members and the volunteers who helped organize our all-candidates forums and provided residents with important election information.
Your efforts have helped residents become better informed about the issues and the choices before them. Your contributions have not gone unnoticed.
The election is behind us. The real work begins now. Let’s give our new council the opportunity to do that work, hold it accountable for its decisions and remember that respect and civility must remain part of the process.
Norm Arsenault (Director, Niagara-on-the-Lake Residents Association)
NOTL
