Welland Tribune e-edition

Region wants to track lobbyists

Britton is council’s newest member

BILL SAWCHUK BILL SAWCHUK IS A ST. CATHARINES-BASED REPORTER WITH THE STANDARD. REACH HIM VIA EMAIL: WILLIAM.SAWCHUK @NIAGARADAILIES.COM

Nominations are open for the 2022 Niagara Biennial Design Awards, which celebrate design excellence.

Regional council has officially launched its lobbyist registry to track all lobbying activities directed toward councillors and staff.

Residents can find the publicly accessible and searchable registry on Niagara Region’s website.

Lobbyists must register and submit subject matter discussed with councillors and staff. Lobbyists have five business days after an interaction to report it.

St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip brought the original motion that resulted in the lobbyist registry.

“With the implementation of this registry, we join a growing list of progressive communities such as Toronto, Collingwood, Ottawa and Hamilton and the Region of Peel who are demonstrating to their constituents that they are committed to openness and accountability,” Ip said in a news release.

“I believe the public has a right to know how decisions are made, and this registry is an important step to ensuring more fulsome transparency with the public.”

The registry bylaw defines lobbying as any communication that attempts to influence the Region’s business or operations, including policy, financial or legislative decisions. Lobbying can take many forms, including phone calls, emails, inperson meetings, text messages or social media interactions. Registering as a lobbyist with the Niagara Region carries no fee.

Mike Britton joins council

St. Catharines Coun. Mike Britton was formally sworn in last week. Britton replaces George Darte, who resigned March 30 citing personal reasons, as the next-place finisher in the 2018 election for St. Catharines regional council representatives.

Top designs to be awarded

Nominations are open for the 2022 Niagara Biennial Design Awards, which celebrate design excellence and showcase Niagara’s design professionals and artists toward the Region’s economy.

Eligible projects must be within the boundaries of the Niagara region and have been completed between Jan. 1, 2020, and Sept. 16, 2022. Enduring design projects must have been be completed before Dec. 31, 2019.

The nomination form can be found on the Region’s Biennial Awards webpage. The deadline is Sept. 16 to be considered. Individuals or groups can submit a project. Those eligible include owners, developers, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, interior designers, artists and students. The categories include visionary design, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, outdoor art, student design, public interiors, enduring design (new).

OPINION

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2022-05-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

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