Siscoe appointment to regional council one more signal that double-direct election system could work, writes reader
Letter to the Editor,
The St. Catharines Standard
Put regional reform on the fall ballot
Re: Regional council gives Siscoe the nod to fill seat left vacant by death of Sandie Bellows, Jan. 7
The appointment of city councillor Mat Siscoe to Niagara Region council has reinforced the position of Siscoe and Mayor Wayor Sendzik, as well as Mike Britton for that matter, that “someone who has experience with current issues the city is facing and not issues from four years ago” is of great value to the people of St. Catharines.
That is the whole basis of supporting the double-direct city/regional councillor election concept. St. Catharines requested that model last term, and Niagara Falls council requested it this term.
Regions that compete with Niagara like Halton and Durham have had the double-direct model for many years. They both elect their regional chair at large.
It is time for Niagara to modernize our governance model. We still have time to at least ask the people what they want in a referendum this fall. Put a referendum question on the municipal ballot.
The politicians are very reluctant to change but they may listen to the people in a referendum. Let’s start with “Chair at large, yes or no” and see what the people say about change.
Bruce Timms
St. Catharines