Malignant Secrecy

Where is the concern? Once every three weeks the Regional Council meets to do its business; governing on behalf of Niagara Citizens. 

Folks with a particular interest occasionally show up to make a plea. When done there is an immediate evacuation.

Often you find yourself sitting alone in an empty gallery equal in size to the council chamber of fifty. Still the performance never fails entertain.

On the evening of September 13, 2012 Councillor Petrowski asked why the information regarding the Ontario Ombudsman’s findings against the Region’s misconduct and secrecy, including any remedial action of the Niagara Regional Government, was not on the Region’s website?

Ombudsman Marin

Sadly, we also learned from that meeting of Regional Council that there is a more serious situation; some are even finding it humorous, regarding even more secrecy.

Through a series of five questions Councillor Andrew Petrowski ferreted out the fact that the Regional Government had formed another secret committee made up of two commissionaires, two Councillors, plus the Regional Chair to interview candidates for the vacated position of Clerk.

This case of indiscretion lies in the fact that this whole secret setup was actually withheld from the REST of COUNCIL! 

 Even the CHOSEN Councillors couldn't see a need to enlighten their fellow Regional Councillors! 

This is hardly new to the Niagara Winners Circle. It was the NWC that first broke the 2010 story 'Inventing Darkness' to shocked Niagarans.'

   The NWC fought back against  the secret ‘CORK’ committee, which was fully supported by the whole of Regional Council to prevent the public from ever again presenting their views.

Even today the Niagara Regional Government demands that citizen presenters file to present no later than 9:00 AM on the last Friday before the Thursday council meeting and only on an agenda matter, even though the agenda is not posted until Monday!   

File Friday - Agenda posted Monday - Council meeting Thursday?

More:

http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/2012/09/21/column-give-niagara-regional-councillors-a-big-f-for-failing-once-again-to-talk-about-governance/

http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/2012/09/20/lack-of-transparency-at-the-region-its-never-been-so-open-chairman-says/

http://www.niagarawinnerscircle.com/Inventing-Darkness.html

Inventing Darkness

It was a very bleak night on September 23, 2010! That’s because it was the night the light went out at Niagara Regional Government! That’s the night that our current Niagara Regional Councillors voted to shut out the People of Niagara from our public forum, stifling any future input at Niagara Regional Council! That’s the night they decided to muzzle any possible dissent from the public! That’s the night they assured themselves that Niagara Citizens would never again witness, via their television sets, what is going on at our Niagara Region!

On the recommendation of The Secret ‘Council Organization Review Committee’ (CORC) whose members are

Regional Chairman *Partington, Councillors Baty, Augustine, Burroughs, *Casselman, Cordiner, Greenwood, *Heit, Henderson, Lepp, Marshall, *McMullan, Puttick, *Rigby, Saracino, Smeaton and *Timms  (* St. Catharines Councillors)

The whole of Regional Council, including Garcia, voted September 23, 2010 that,

Delegations {Inividuals} shall not be permitted to appear at Council Meetings

Note - Those that claim they did not vote for this also failed to raise their hand for a recorded vote

Our Regional Council is a municipal governing body. It does not operate as a parliament with opposition parties making their case, with opposition parties to present our opposing views, and to do so publicly on television.

Our self-adulating and unopposed Regional elected body took it upon itself to block the sunlight of vital information! Obviously these councillors could not risk the camera exposing the truth for the allotted time of even 10 minutes!

   Suppression of dissent is the first weapon of the Tyrant! Only a Tyrant would use dictatorial powers to secretly block the public from our public forum!

This is NOT a Democratic Act! This IS Democratic Corruption!

There are strong forces among our Niagara authorities to muzzle decent, promote secrecy and diminish property rights.

For his efforts Councillor Petrowski was accused of wanting to micro-manage through transparency.

Question: what should one conclude is the ramification of systematically governing in secrecy?

Undue government secrecy is a malignancy that must be checked or it will continually grow until it destroys its host!

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No Fixed Address

Responding to the four reports by Niagara this week, in august 2012 a 24 hour ‘Live-in-car-athon’ took place for the dual purpose of educating the public and as fund-raiser to help shelter families with children.

“It was about homelessness, but it was also about poverty and educating our participants as much as we could,” said Nicki Inch, fund developer for YWCA Niagara.

By all accounts that did happen. One of the eye-opening moments was during an Amazing Race-style event, where participants had to go to Zehrs and find ways to feed a family of four on a budget of $50.

In all, about $35,000 was raised for the event, although there are still some donations filtering in.

Jennie Stevens figures she slept maybe three hours or so, but she didn’t regret it. “It was a tough night, but it is such a great cause. That’s what helps get you through is knowing what a difference you’re making,” said the St. Catharines city councillor, who was joined by fellow councillors Matt Harris, Mathew Siscoe and Jeff Burch. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to sleep in a vehicle with children. Just me was tough enough.”

Stevens said a lot of different thoughts went through her mind throughout the night, in addition to the desire to get a good sleep. Among them was safety and security.

“You wonder where people can safely park in the city,” she said. “It’s really sad to think there are people out there forced to do this.”

Councillor Stevens, you wonder about safe parking in our city, yet you and your fellow councilors have been handed the reason why ‘people are forced to live in their cars’! “Costs of living are so high now” Inch said.

Councilor Stevens perhaps you and your fellow councilors could arrange safe parking in your personal parking around city hall or Market Square or the NRP parking lot or the closed schools or even the empty parking lots at our FORMER industries.

“Sleep was hard to come by,” said Walter Sendzik. “It was a pretty lonely experience sleeping in your car and it really opens your eyes when you think people do this day in, day out.”

This whole exercise is merely a band aid to mask systemic and growing wound caused by legions of leaches draining the financial lifeblood of our society.

Long before we witnessed three year-old-little girls washing up from a bucket outside the open back hatch of the vehicle she is forced to live in, the Niagara Winners Circle warned council that their decisions were‘failing the city, failing our citizens and even failing yourselves’. At that time a courageous ‘Chamber of Commerce’ independently echoed similar sentiments. 

Still, all levels of our governments continue the rush votes to increase unnecessary spending as if they are not part of the problem.