In the wake of the resignation…

I have sent the following text message to MPP Sam Oosterhoff:

Good morning, Sam

I hope you’re doing well, and I want to thank you/your colleagues for taking the appropriate action and having Bob Gale resign.

In the wake of this, it would be my recommendation that the province take a step back from any governance change and set a condition that the Region, in partnership with the local area municipalities, undertake a full review (public consultation, financial analysis, business case(s)) with recommendations for cost savings and service delivery efficiencies, including elected representation, with changes to be made ahead of the 2030 election.

I’ve sent plenty elsewhere, so I will only say this about Bob Gale’s resignation:

1. I do not believe for a single second that someone feels so strongly about governance reform in Niagara that they were sitting on this information about Bob Gale for any length of time and then decided this was the perfect moment to release it;
2. We are not, as some would have you believe, “doomed” if we don’t immediately reform governance in Niagara; and
3. It is wildly inappropriate and outright false to paint Bob Gale as any sort of hero for “taking one for the team” (which team?) or “falling on his sword.”

Moving forward from this, it is my hope that the province will appoint someone who has the capacity to build bridges, rather than immediately set them aflame, and that they will also take a few beats and – in the quest for that “Made in Niagara” solution that’s been mentioned by the Premier – give Niagara Region and the local area municipalities time to work together (and a deadline by which to make recommendations) on governance reform.