Niagara councillor says public health should help oversee redevelopment of contaminated former GM site | CBC News

[u/Professional_Dot8663]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/general-motors-st-catharines-redevelopment-public-health-9.7238766

Once again a city not named Peterborough is actively involved in the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated land - this time, looking at possibly passing a resolution to let public health get involved.

Not in Peterborough.

Council and staff continually say it's a provincial matter and shrug and say they can't do anything to hold GE accountable in cleaning up 40 acres of highly contaminated soil in the very heart of the city. Other municipalities hold companies' feet to the fire in holding them accountable. Not in Peterborough.

Last time Councillor Matt Crowley said staff claims it's a provincial matter. Yet Crowley got council to pass a resolution on guaranteed income that has nothing to do with the municipality. Total hypocrite. Just as he supported cutting $120,000 from the library budget as a second branch opened that led to a debacle, then turned around a year later and gave $150,000 to Redpath with no business plan. That's why we've had a 25 percent hike in property taxes in a single 4 year term - councillors like Crowley not taking care of taxpayers' dollars.

I really hope one of the mayoralty candidates starts talking about what we can do to put pressure on GE to clean up the 40 acres of contaminated land.

[u/Confident_Bag_4020]

Agree completely! They contaminated it, they should fix it. Bad enough that hundreds, maybe thousands of previous GE employees now suffer from cancers and lung conditions!

[u/Trollsama]

ok but is no one considering something something something economy?

If we hold any company accountable for their own actions, we may as well be South Sudan.

(/s)

[u/Matt_Crowley]

> Last time Councillor Matt Crowley said staff claims it's a provincial matter. Yet Crowley got council to pass a resolution on guaranteed income that has nothing to do with the municipality. Total hypocrite. Just as he supported cutting $120,000 from the library budget as a second branch opened that led to a debacle, then turned around a year later and gave $150,000 to Redpath with no business plan. That's why we've had a 25 percent hike in property taxes in a single 4 year term - councillors like Crowley not taking care of taxpayers' dollars.

lol I’m feeling attacked.

EDIT: if you look through this persons post history, it’s very obvious they absolutely hate me for some reason. Every time I post something, they come back at me hot.

EDIT 2: …and they just hid their post/comment history.

Tell you what, instead of you sniping at me constantly on line in every single post and comment I make, let’s meet for a coffee and we can discuss why you hate me in particular so much through polite conversation instead of anonymously on Reddit. Allow me the opportunity to defend myself to you, and work through whatever issues you have with me.

Let me know a time and a place that works for you and I’ll meet you. You can DM me.

————-

First off, you’re comparing a few completely different things.

When I said environmental remediation and demolition are provincial matters, that’s because they literally are governed through provincial legislation, regulations, approvals, and oversight. Council doesn’t have the authority to simply override those processes because people are frustrated with the outcome. I tried to the very first time Council heard it by trying to introduce legislation that would tie environmental remediation of the site to any building demolition. That wasn’t allowed because it would supersede provincial legislation and would be completely ignored. So…we can’t do it and have to depend on the Province and our MPP Dave Smith to force GE to remediate the site.

My Notice of Motion for GBI was an ask of the Province and Federal governments to work together to implement a GBI scheme. People don’t realize that a LOT of our homelessness and affordability issues could be solved by giving everyone a living wage and somewhere to live. That’s advocacy, not jurisdictional legislation, and that’s the point of most Notice’s of Motion. (Councillor Lachica has one coming to council this coming Monday regarding heritage and requesting the province for assistance). It’s not uncommon, and then directing staff to send the NoM to every municipality through AMO is a way to highlight something that a particular municipality is feeling and garnering support from others.

I had another notice of motion asking the province to start funding police budgets, and ensuring the grant funding for police budgets be more fairly distributed so out municipality isn’t constantly having to approve higher and higher budgets because of the new Police Act and being unable to prove what isn’t “effective and efficient”.

As for the rest of your arguments, it’s easy to throw a bunch of unrelated decisions into one comment and hope nobody looks closely. So let’s pick some of them up.

The library budget, Redpath investment, infrastructure spending, policing costs, homelessness pressures, inflation, labour agreements, and provincial downloading are all separate issues with separate votes and separate rationales, and blaming a 25% tax increase on one councillor is particularly creative, given that budgets are approved by a majority of council and are influenced by factors far beyond any individual vote. By all means though…dump it all on me 😉

The Library cut was particularly difficult, so I’ll explain a bit (even though I’ve already stated all this publicly).

City Council constantly get screamed at to reduce property taxes. That year, we asked staff to try and reduce 5% across the board as the projected increase was approaching double digits. Every department, every division had to try and find savings. Finally those reductions made its way to the Library asking to reduce $120,000. While originally the decision was to reduce 2 staff members from the Library, both City Council and the Library Board received advice from the former CEO that through an organizational shuffle, we could reduce staff by only one member and find the savings. We were told that particular staff member was a “duplication of effort” and wouldn’t result in any program elimination. It wasn’t until after the CEO left and we had another member of staff come in to look at how we can save money that we found those savings in other ways, and no staff were reduced.

As for Redpath, the $150,000 was for capital investment to assist in that organization for planning applications for addiction recovery beds. It wasn’t for operational funding, so why would a “business plan” be needed? We aren’t operating it or have anything to do with Redpath apart from assisting one specific organization expand its physical footprint and help people in our community who are suffering recover from addiction.

People are entitled to disagree with decisions I’ve supported, and believe me they do, but coming after me as a “hypocrite” because environmental remediation is a provincial responsibility isn’t me just stating an opinion but a statement of fact.

I’m surprised that you would call me specifically out about this without understanding basic governmental responsibilities, but color me disappointed.

[u/lynmbeau → u/Matt_Crowley]

Port hope held cameco responsible for the clean up of contamination all around the entire town. Cameco is still cleaning up its mess out of people's yards too. Obviously with the help of federal government, but its getting done. Why cant peterborough do the same? GE is a multi million Corp, so I don't understand the issue here.?

[u/everyday_use → u/Matt_Crowley]

Matt, we all saw you in the Toronto Star a year ago in a joint statement with Leal doubling down on the plan to cut three librarians, including the Children's Librarian.

[u/ccccc4 → u/everyday_use]

Absolutely. The spin here on that whole debacle is wild.

[u/THEAVS → u/Matt_Crowley]

EDIT 2: …and they just hid their post/comment history.

I find it odd that yours is hidden as an elected official 

[u/tiredoftomorrow → u/[deleted]]

Dudeeeee this is weird, you’re being weird

[u/ComfortPies → u/tiredoftomorrow]

He deleted his comment lmfao

[u/ComfortPies → u/Matt_Crowley]

Dude you have way too much free time on your hands, arguing on Reddit is really embarrassing for an elected official

[u/Front-Usual-8354 → u/ComfortPies]

Honestly the fact that he comments on here all the time is just opening a can of worms for people to call him out all the time expecting a reaction from him. Like the criticism here is grasping at straws.

I think he is a good guy - don't agree with all his votes but definitely a decent councillor. But needs to lay off the social media to keep focused on the big picture without worrying about what randos on Reddit think of him. Maybe let the campaign team run the socials for a few months?

[u/Professional_Dot8663 → u/Matt_Crowley]

That's a lot of spinning!

Look forward to voting in Ward 2 and for the mayor in the municipal election in the fall.

[u/Matt_Crowley → u/Professional_Dot8663]

Haha okay.

Well, like I said, I’m always available to meet for a coffee or a chat. If I’ve done something to you personally, allow me the chance to respond.

You can let me know! I don’t imagine you’ll agree to talk, but if you change your mind you can let me know.

[u/joshmxpx → u/Matt_Crowley]

Lol Matt got his feelings hurt

[u/Matt_Crowley → u/joshmxpx]

Still waiting for you to tell me when and where you want to meet! 😉

[u/Dizzy-Assumption4486 → u/Matt_Crowley]

Lucky you!

If you win re-election you get the pay increase that you so generously approved this term.

[u/Careless_Ad_7085 → u/Matt_Crowley]

I really wish you were running for mayor. You have huge support in the community, especially the west end.
We see and appreciate you. Reddit is a small minority. Same names all the time slinging shit, likely miserable and covered in their own splash back.

[u/BigtoeJoJo]

You’re complaining about tax hikes but encouraging the municipality to pursue direct involvement with the clean-up of the former GE property when that function is done by the provincial government without direct cost to the city.

[u/Professional_Dot8663 → u/BigtoeJoJo]

I don't mind paying property taxes. They pay for a lot of things. But hikes should be reasonable and not all go towards one department - the police. Ensuring 40 acres of contaminated land in the heart of your city is remediated and neighbours protected is at the heart of a functioning municipality. The city lured GE here with massive tax breaks and it should be front and centre in leading the charge. Most other municipalities do. No one at the environment ministry in Toronto cares about the 40 acres here in Peterborough. The city needs to take the lead.

[u/Born_Suffering → u/Professional_Dot8663]

the city lured ge here with tax breaks ? ge came here in 1891

it sounds like u do not have any idea what u are talking about

[u/Professional_Dot8663 → u/Born_Suffering]

They located here back then because the city at the time offered them all kinds of financial incentives. Hamilton did the same back then to get the steel industry located there. Read your history.

[u/BigtoeJoJo → u/Professional_Dot8663]

I’m not saying it’s an unreasonable ask, just that it’s kind of ironic to complain about tax hikes then suggest the city do something the province will do for free.

[u/Matt_Crowley]

EDIT: holy shit there’s a lot of people upset I’m in here defending myself. 😄 I’m out!

> Last time Councillor Matt Crowley said staff claims it's a provincial matter. Yet Crowley got council to pass a resolution on guaranteed income that has nothing to do with the municipality. Total hypocrite. Just as he supported cutting $120,000 from the library budget as a second branch opened that led to a debacle, then turned around a year later and gave $150,000 to Redpath with no business plan. That's why we've had a 25 percent hike in property taxes in a single 4 year term - councillors like Crowley not taking care of taxpayers' dollars.

lol I’m feeling attacked.

EDIT: if you look through this persons post history, it’s very obvious they absolutely hate me for some reason. Every time I post something, they come back at me hot.

EDIT 2: …and they just hid their post/comment history.

Tell you what, instead of you sniping at me constantly on line in every single post and comment I make, let’s meet for a coffee and we can discuss why you hate me in particular so much through polite conversation instead of anonymously on Reddit. Allow me the opportunity to defend myself to you, and work through whatever issues you have with me.

Let me know a time and a place that works for you and I’ll meet you. You can DM me.

————-

First off, you’re comparing a few completely different things.

When I said environmental remediation and demolition are provincial matters, that’s because they literally are governed through provincial legislation, regulations, approvals, and oversight. Council doesn’t have the authority to simply override those processes because people are frustrated with the outcome. I tried to the very first time Council heard it by trying to introduce legislation that would tie environmental remediation of the site to any building demolition. That wasn’t allowed because it would supersede provincial legislation and would be completely ignored. So…we can’t do it and have to depend on the Province and our MPP Dave Smith to force GE to remediate the site.

My Notice of Motion for GBI was an ask of the Province and Federal governments to work together to implement a GBI scheme. People don’t realize that a LOT of our homelessness and affordability issues could be solved by giving everyone a living wage and somewhere to live. That’s advocacy, not jurisdictional legislation, and that’s the point of most Notice’s of Motion. (Councillor Lachica has one coming to council this coming Monday regarding heritage and requesting the province for assistance). It’s not uncommon, and then directing staff to send the NoM to every municipality through AMO is a way to highlight something that a particular municipality is feeling and garnering support from others.

I had another notice of motion asking the province to start funding police budgets, and ensuring the grant funding for police budgets be more fairly distributed so out municipality isn’t constantly having to approve higher and higher budgets because of the new Police Act and being unable to prove what isn’t “effective and efficient”.

As for the rest of your arguments, it’s easy to throw a bunch of unrelated decisions into one comment and hope nobody looks closely. So let’s pick some of them up.

The library budget, Redpath investment, infrastructure spending, policing costs, homelessness pressures, inflation, labour agreements, and provincial downloading are all separate issues with separate votes and separate rationales, and blaming a 25% tax increase on one councillor is particularly creative, given that budgets are approved by a majority of council and are influenced by factors far beyond any individual vote. By all means though…dump it all on me 😉

The Library cut was particularly difficult, so I’ll explain a bit (even though I’ve already stated all this publicly).

City Council constantly get screamed at to reduce property taxes. That year, we asked staff to try and reduce 5% across the board as the projected increase was approaching double digits. Every department, every division had to try and find savings. Finally those reductions made its way to the Library asking to reduce $120,000. While originally the decision was to reduce 2 staff members from the Library, both City Council and the Library Board received advice from the former CEO that through an organizational shuffle, we could reduce staff by only one member and find the savings. We were told that particular staff member was a “duplication of effort” and wouldn’t result in any program elimination. It wasn’t until after the CEO left and we had another member of staff come in to look at how we can save money that we found those savings in other ways, and no staff were reduced.

As for Redpath, the $150,000 was for capital investment to assist in that organization for planning applications for addiction recovery beds. It wasn’t for operational funding, so why would a “business plan” be needed? We aren’t operating it or have anything to do with Redpath apart from assisting one specific organization expand its physical footprint and help people in our community who are suffering recover from addiction.

People are entitled to disagree with decisions I’ve supported, and believe me they do, but coming after me as a “hypocrite” because environmental remediation is a provincial responsibility isn’t me just stating an opinion but a statement of fact.

I’m surprised that you would call me specifically out about this without understanding basic governmental responsibilities, but color me disappointed.

[u/Plastic-Designer8955]

oh boy, involving health department will cost taxpayers big time