 Bruce Timms, Niagara Regional Councillor Representing The City of St. Catharines
His top priorities for this term are:
1) GO Rail Service for Niagara, and Regional
Transit network.
2) Welland Canals Corridor Strategy, including designation of the Historical Canals as National Historic Sites, and the Ports Niagara Strategy for economic growth.
3) Single tier Water and Waste Water utility, get rid of two tier duplication and reduce cost.
The concept of reducing two tier Water and waste water services to single tier service leads to the number one priority for the new term,
Reform of Regional Governance,
Integrate region and local councils, eliminate the 18 Region only councillors and put city councillors at the Regional table and elect the Regional Chair at Large.
Six St.Catharines City councillors would do double duty and serve at the Region and the City. This model is used in Burlington and Oakville of Halton Region and Oshawa and Whitby of Durham Region.
Less two Tier , more Team Niagara.
The Regional Council becomes a team of city and town Councillors working together for the good of the entire Region.
The Regional Chair is elected at large by the voters of the whole Region like the Halton model.
This model works elsewhere in the Province , is proven to be successful and I believe it can be supported by all the 12 municipalities in time for the next Municipal election, 2014.
It is a Forty Year face lift for Regional government, after 40 years it is time to improve the governance model of Niagara, to focus on the team of 12 communities, integrate the councils of the local communities into a Regional Council that works together with good understanding of the local council’s challenges. Get rid of the structured separation into two tiers and focus on teamwork. It has worked well when the joint committees at the Region include local city councillors from Niagara Falls and Welland and Thorold and all the others sitting around the table working out common problems.
“The Forty Year Facelift, or Forty Year Fix for Niagara is overdue and it will be my top priority in the new term. Less Two Tier more Team Niagara” said Timms.
Regional Councillor Bruce Timms has served on Regional Council since 1991, has served as Chair of Public Health Committee, Chair of the Greater Niagara Circle Route Steering Committee, he sits on the Board of Niagara Regional Housing.
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Timms motion for one year Coucillor pay freeze |
| 27 Dec 2011 |
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Nov.30th Councillor Bruce Timms put a motion to the Corporate Services Committee to continue the Councillor salary freeze for 2012. Last Year Council froze it"s own salarys in recognition of the Provincial example and the tough economic times . " I think this is a year where councillors need to hold the line on Councillor Salaries " as reported in the St.Catharines Standard. The Province imposed a 2 year freeze on their non-union staff and MPPs , this move by Regional council would be consistant with that. Regional Council confirmed the move later in December . |
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Merry Christmas, and Happy holiday season |
| 23 Dec 2011 |
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Terry and I wish Niagara a happy Holiday season , some snow for a couple days around Christmas, and a prosperous New Year. |
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Timms appointed to City governance review committee |
| 18 Dec 2011 |
Regional Councillors Bruce Timms and Al Caslin have been appointed to a City of St.Catharines Governance committee. The Committee was set up by a motion of city council Oct. 17 2011 that established the membership of the committee and a draft terms of reference. There are 3 city councillors , 2 Niagara Regional Councillors and three citizens at large .
Councillors Secord, Burch and Siscoe. Regional Councillors Timms and Caslin, and citiezens at large , Mike Sullivan, Brett Sweeney Dr.John McTavish. The first meeting waas Dec. 14, Matt Siscoe was elected to chair the group. |
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Region wants economic explanation from arbitrators |
| 06 Sep 2011 |
Published in the St. Catharines Standard, August 24, 2011
... The Region approved wage and hiring freezes this year. Timms said the Region would make clear "there will be losses of service and there will be harm done" depending on the reward.
He pointed to a recent arbitration decision in Fort Frances, Ont., in which the town slashed two of its eight firefighters after a hefty arbitration award. "The old expectation they had that we'd just pass on to our (taxpayers) will not stand," Timms said.
CLICK HERE to read full article in the St. Catharines Standard |
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Timms gives Notice of Motion |
| 24 Apr 2011 |
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Regional Councillor Bruce Timms gave Regional Council notice of a motion he intends to introduce at the next meeting, calling on Council to invite the Police Board to join the Region in a delegation to the Province of Ontario to request action to Fix the Broken Arbitration System that see arbitrators award the Poilice Association salary increases that are out of touch with the economic realities of Niagara . |
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