If we collectively adopt the Niagara Original brand and creatively bring it to life, we will capture the interest and imagination of the travelling public, investors, residents and the media. In this way, we will all benefit from the financial and social benefits of growth generated from tourism and broader economic development.
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Regional Councillors and staff were at Queen’s Park early May to make the case for several Niagara Region issues and concerns.
Over 25 meetings were held during three days, with cabinet ministers, members of provincial parliament, and senior public servants, representing several ministries.
The main purpose of Niagara Week is to bring items and initiatives that are unique to the Niagara region to the attention of the provincial government, and to present them with ‘one voice’.
This year, Regional staff focused our discussions on policy and regulatory changes that will benefit the economic environment in Niagara. Some of the topics included:
Policy and regulatory changes/improvements (including a new Community Improvement Plan) in the Gateway Economic Zone and Centre
Offering to create a partnership with the province on the 406 extension/East-West Corridor
Acceleration to reduce the province’s Business Education Tax in Niagara to help business and manufacturing
Pursuing negotiations with the St. Lawrence Seaway to facilitate commuter GO Rail service to Niagara Falls
Finding a creative solution to Niagara’s need for long-term care beds to ease pressure on hospital emergency rooms and Niagara Emergency Medical Services
Partnerships for the protection of our natural resources, including the wetlands, Greenbelt and the Fonthill Kame
Consideration of the arbitration process to take into account the “ability to pay” for municipalities
The Regional Chair and senior staff will continue to keep in touch with the government representatives and public servants that they met with in Toronto, to ensure that the needs of Niagara residents will be kept at the forefront of the agenda at Queen’s Park.
