Council calls on province to revamp parks commission representation

Jul 10, 2009

City councillors are calling on the premier to amend the Niagara Parks Act to allow the municipal representatives on the Niagara Parks Commission the ability to report back to their respective councils and if that can’t be done, representation on the commission should be restructured to set out clear lines of responsibility.

That was the motion passed by council at its meeting last week after community group Protect Our Parks called on council to hold the NPC accountable, as its actions directly impact city residents.

“You understand that what happens in the Niagara Parks system impacts and reflects on the city in countless ways,” said Patricia Salci Mangoff, the group’s coordinator. “When the NPC cannot fulfill their financial commitment in lieu of taxes, that hits our taxpayers in the pocketbook, and every dollar withheld from city coffers means a cut in city services, one way or another.”

The commission currently owes the city outstanding fees totalling $900,000.

Salci Mangoff questioned the role of Coun. Vince Kerrio, the city’s representative on the commission, who is limited on what he can report to council because like all commissioners, Kerrio took an confidentiality oath.

Kerrio said he advocates what best represents the City of Niagara Falls and although he would prefer to have meetings in a forum similar to council, the decision is up to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

“I take my job very seriously at the Park. I took an oath of confidence by the province,” he said, before reading a letter to council from NPC Chairman Jim Williams. “Take this to McGuinty – he’s the only one who can make us conduct our meetings in public.”

At its last meeting council passed a motion requesting Williams or NPC general manager John Kernahan appear before council as a delegation to address concerns over ailing property and outstanding fees. In his letter to council, Williams denied the request, citing reviews currently being undertaken by the province. But, he said the NPC spends more than $16 million each year to maintain and preserve the commission’s land. He wrote that like the city, the NPC has limited resources to work with in light of the current economic situation and ailing status of tourism — particularly, a steep decline in American visitors.

Coun. Janice Wing, who proposed the motion for restructuring at the NPC, said sending another letter to the premier wouldn’t be overstepping the city’s role.

“This cannot be dismissed by council as not our problem. I think what (Protect Our Parks) is asking of this council is to get behind them and lend them a little bit of support. I don’t think sending a letter to the premier is taking it a step too far,” she said.

Are The Aero Car And Incline Railway On The Wire For Lease?

I don’t know if it is true or not, since the source is a contractor who is known for his BS.

According to one of the contractors who services the Incline Railway and Aero Car, both will be leased out to their parent company, starting next year…

This came straight from one of their lips (when he was pissed off about something). The other contractor, (same company) won’t even answer the question…. This leaves me to believe it is true.

As I said, one of the individuals who does the servicing are well known for their B.S. The two of them have cost the NPC lots of money over the last few years what makes them money makes their company money. It also costs the NPC money. It also justifies the NPC to declare the 2 attractions a money pit and decide to lease them out.

There has been loads of needless maintenance on the incline and the Aerocar. This Maintenance which is being performed on the NPC’s dime will make the Incline and Aerocar more attractive to a company looking to lease out the two.

Border requirements impact local tourism

Posted By JOHN ROBBINS REVIEW STAFF WRITER

The Canadian tourism industry is experiencing its longest period of decline since the 9-11 terrorist attacks almost eight years ago, according to Statistics Canada report released Monday.

But if the recent experience of the Niagara Parks Commission is a good indication of what’s happening elsewhere in Niagara, Ontario and across Canada today, the Statistics Canada figures showing a 1.3 per cent decrease in tourism spending during the first quarter of 2009 will be seen as comparatively good news.

Parks commission chairman Jim Williams says the NPC has seen its revenues fall sharply since the beginning of June when new border-crossing regulations came into effect.

“We were actually having a fairly good turnaround from Nov. 1 until May 31,” said Williams. “Overall, our numbers were up eight per cent or thereabouts, year over year.

“But since the beginning of June, there has been a dramatic decline … We’ve experienced anywhere from 15 to 20 per cent decline in all of our various revenue generating operations just since June 1.”

Williams attributes the decline in large measure to the introduction of the border-crossing documentation requirements imposed by the United States under the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiatives.

The legislation requires Americans and other citizens entering the United States to show a passport or some other form of secure identification, such as a Nexus Card or enhanced driver’s licence.

“My guess is this is pretty much the norm right across the tourism industry, particularly border sites that rely on a lot of American tourism.”

Highlights of the Statistics Canada report released Monday include:

* The first quarter of 2009 was the first time tourism spending has fallen for three consecutive quarters since 2001. During that downturn, tourism spending fell by a cumulative 5.3 per cent in real terms;

* Spending by international visitors fell 5.7 per cent during the first quarter of 2009 -the 14th decline in 17 quarters and the sharpest decline since the SARS outbreak during the second quarter of 2003;

* Spending by Canadians on tourism in Canada edged down one-tenth of a per cent during the first quarter of 2009, following “modest” declines during the last two quarters of 2008.

Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor said the Statistics Canada figures are disappointing by not surprising, considering the state of the economy worldwide.

Craitor said he’s hopeful government investment in tourism-related infrastructure, such as the new convention centre in Niagara Falls, support for festivals and events and spending on marketing Ontario, will help stem the losses.