On Economic Strategy ...

I have been consistent in my support for the Tourist Area Development Strategy (TADS) Guidelines, which Council adopted in 1998. I believe in the vision for the tourist area which our consultants recommended, and which the Council of the day agreed to.

I have been one of the strongest voices on Council calling for adherence to these Tourist Area Development guidelines, which call for the carefully planned, articulated skyline characteristic of a world class city.

I also believe in a level playing field. To maintain a healthy and confident business atmosphere, the same rules should apply equally to all.

I strongly believe that we need to focus on diversifying our economic base. I believe it is dangerous to put all our eggs in one basket.

I fear a devastating impact on the local economy when the U.S. and Canadian dollars level out in value, and our American visitors, who come in droves when their money is worth much more, become more inclined to stay home. We have seen the devastating impacts on the Niagara Falls, New York economy of Canadians staying at home when their dollar is weaker.

We should be doing everything in our power to make Niagara Falls an attractive place for light, warehousing, and high?tech industry to locate. I believe in giving whatever support and breaks we can to the Industrial sector to encourage continued and new investment here.

I have read, and I support, the Niagara Economic & Tourism Corporation’s (NETCORP) Investment Strategy. I believe that, as per its recommendations, we should also be further increasing our range of tourism experiences. NETCORP reports:

“Cultural tourism, which encompasses heritage tourism, is one of the key trends in international tourism investment ... Niagara’s tourism product needs to continue to diversify in order to attract and serve this market.”

When I served as President of the Friends of the Lundy’s Lane Battlefield, I played a leadership role in developing a new cultural tourism attraction,.

Under my leadership, the Friends raised verified contributions of a quarter million dollars towards their Canada Millennium Partnership Project, “Development of the Lundy’s Lane Battlefield as a Historical Site.” The restoration of tavern which was part of Ruth Redmond’s gift to the city was the centrepiece of this Project.

The Friends succeeded in also bringing almost $200,000 (in addition to their quarter million contribution) in Canada Millennium Partnership Project grant monies to our city. It is my hope that this Project is the catalyst for further developments of this type.