08 Aug 2024
Re: St. Catharines looks into burying hydro lines in Port Dalhousie, July 23
Two Port Dalhousie issues would benefit from a ward councillor sitting on regional council, as they do in Oakville.
St. Catharines city council is asking the Region to consider burying hydro lines and reconsider a pedestrian mall. The debate would be assisted by the double direct city/regional councillor model used in Oakville. There would be six city councillors at the Region for this debate.
Modernizing Niagara to at least catch up with the Oakville model is something the province could do as it reviews regional government.
Bruce Timms, St. Catharines
14 Mar 2018
26 Nov 2017
Nov 23 2017
Timms votes against NRP budget increase of 4.5%, $3.44 million over the 1.5% increase guideline. "What other Regional service will be reduced to fund the Police and keep to a 2% tax increase?"
31 Aug 2016
A public meeting will be held at 6:30pm Thursday September 15th. A vote of Regional Council will also be held to vote yes or no to dual duty for St.Catharines.
For more information and to watch video, click here
" Niagara voters should elect the Regional chair in the same manner they elect a city mayor. In St.Catharines we elect a mayor to lead a council that is responsible for 41% of the property tax bill. The Regional Chair leads a council responsible for 45% of your tax bill and even more of youe water bill. I believe this is one more good reason to allow the Niagara voter to vote directly for the Leader of Regional Council. Many other municipalities in Ontarion elect their Regional Chair directly. Durham Region had a refendum in 2010 that supported direct election by 75% and then followed through with an election in 2014 . " Read Article in the St. Catharines Standard
07 Aug 2015
St. Catharines Regional Councillor Bruce Timms is a strong supporter of cycling in the region, the circle route and its tourism draw.
Keeping the ferry going with a Thorold-Niagara Region partnership is imperative, he said.
“I am supporting the Region’s participation in this operation of the ferry,” Timms said. “It’s an important link to the Niagara Falls tourism area.
READ MORE
Double duty, directly elected, Regional council is not about saving money. It is about being more effective.
In today’s economy, it is about being more effective in attracting jobs and businesses to Niagara.
In any economy it is about being efficient and effective in service delivery to our citizens and our 12 local municipal partners.
Read Full Article
St. Catharines city councillors not giving up on a move to reduce the number of local politicians.
Last night, councillors voted to request that the region ask the province for permission to change the city's governance model.
In layman's terms, that means councillors would do double duty and sit on both city council and regional council.
Currently, St. Catharines has 12 city councillors and 6 regional councillors.
Councillor Mat Siscoe tells CKTB's Tim Denis it's a contentious issue, with discussion not only about if a change is needed but if this is the right change.
After the October municipal election, council appointed Matt Harris as its first dual role councillor, but the province stepped in saying the change would have to be implemented before an election campaign begins.
St. Catharines council hoping to have approvals in place before the next election in four years.
Listen on CKTB 610
05 Jul 2015
A fair delivery of justice is a service the Region deliver even if it costs a little more, the province has a court house in St. Catharines and Welland. It is a model we should follow. There are 10 jobs in downtown St. Catharines that provide services for Provincial offences cases. I am worried these 10 jobs will leave downtown, and St. Catharines residents and all north Niagara will have to go to Welland to get justice. Read Article.
Like everyone else, Niagara is not spending the money to keep up with the demand. For instance, it allocated $7 million for road resurfacing in 2015, which is only half of what’s required to meet the need.
Gale labelled the situation “disgraceful.”
I think he was being kind.
He suggests Niagara needs to refocus on how it spends public money, including using regional investments and economic development funds to shore up infrastructure.
Read Full Story
St. Catharines regional Coun. Bruce Timms called on fellow councillors to increase spending on roads.
“The council needs to consider shifting emphasis in budget considerations to roads and bridges, given that our regional network is the arterial roads and the most directly related to prosperity,” Timms said. “Good arterial roads are a very big consideration for businesses coming into our region and we can’t afford to let them get too far deteriorated. They are, to me, a higher priority.”
Read Full Story
Thank goodness for the sage wisdom of Coun. Bruce Timms who flatly stated having regional transit “is important to the argument for GO rail for Niagara."
Read Full Story
Better local transit will also help fill the GO system with tourists coming from Toronto. Currently, it is virtually impossible for tourists to get around Niagara without their own car, so it’s a cruel joke to suggest tourists should take GO to Niagara.
but if we want to be serious about GO service we should be thinking about what we have to do to make the Niagara end of the system more attractive.
In sum, if Niagara wants the province to make a commitment toward public transit to Niagara, then Niagara must first demonstrate its commitment to public transit within the region.
Read Full Story
Thank you St.Catharines, I will continue to work for a streamlined regional government and to defend the taxpayer from a Broken arbitration system
I am pleased to share the police association(union) questions to politicians and my answer with the voting public.
Click here to view NRPA Letter
Here is my response to the above letter:
1. NO, I do not support the current Broken Arbitration system, it favours the union and does not respect the taxpayer.
2. YES, I proposed it, and remain commited to the "defend the taxpayer reserve fund " and I promise to bring it forward to the new council.
3. Only if it meets councils direction and guideline.
4. NO. 350 civilian jobs will leave the downtown Core in 2016 , not for NF downtown but highway commercial property in NF off 420. No benefit to either Downtown Cores , NF or St.C
And may I remind you that while 2014 is an election year for your representatives, 2015 is a Bargaining years for the NRPolice association. And first class constable will make $92,516 as of July 1st 2015
Have you seen this in your mail box? If not, call or email and we will get it to you
PRESS RELEASE:
NIAGARA REGION, Oct. 2, 2014 – Niagara Regional Council has approved an agreement to purchase a property in St. Catharines for the new Niagara Regional Police 1 District St. Catharines detachment. Download full Press Release
The motion was defeated but the idea has not been killed, I will bring it to the new council if re-elected, and see if the NEW council sees their duty to defend the taxpayer.
Niagara Region is to consider setting up a reserve fund to pay the cost
of defending council budget decision on the Police budget if and when
Police Board decides to appeal Council limitations on their Budget.
Regional Councillor Bruce Timms and Carmen D'Angelo < CAO of the
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority will present the new strategic
Plan adopted by the NPCA Board, which Timms Chairs, at St.Catharines
City Council September 22, 2014
