Niagara
Region Anti-Racism Association 2026 Municipal Election Survey
Download our survey for school
trustee candidates here.
Download our survey for all other
municipal election candidates here.
Last update: October 21
Please check back for the answers we
receive and special notes on candidates. We will be publishing answers on a
rolling basis.
Survey question topic codes:
“white supremacists”: Condemning white supremacist groups active locally
“Hitler debacle”: autographed Mein Kampf scandal
“Anti-Indigenous comments”: Anti-Indigenous comments at Niagara Falls Council
“Palestine”: Support for Palestine vs Support for Israel, Ukraine
“Niagara Police”: systemic racism in Niagara Regional Police Service
“suspension rates”: special question for trustees: publishing suspension rates by race
Shortcut by role:
Mayor (2)
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
DSBN (English public) Trustee (2)
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
NCDSB (English Catholic) Trustee
(2: Ward 1, Wards 2-6)
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Special notes on candidates mayoral
councillors wards 1 2 3
4 5 6 NCDSB
Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Among many other things, he made anti-trans comments at a delegation to Niagara Regional Council about sex crimes against children, and anti-immigrant comments at a St. Catharines City Council special meeting about amalgamation.
And then there is this…
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Mat Siscoe had a good record on anti-racism since at least 2014, but you can’t be anti-racist except when it comes to Palestinians.
To his credit he did get the Watson statue removed which the previous Council had not been able to do, and he did make a statement against the Dominion Society conference being potentially moved to the City despite staff earlier taking the position that public condemnation would give an incentive to white supremacists to escalate.
He moved the motion at Niagara Regional Council to shut down
any discussion about Palestine support, claiming discussing the issue could
cause division and that international issues do not belong at Council, when he
already took a side on the issue – the side of Israel on behalf of the City of
St. Catharines by sending City Councillor Robin McPherson to speak for him at a
rally for one side:
Why is it not divisive to take Israel’s side but is divisive to express support for Palestinians?
He had also brought a motion regarding Ukraine, supporting military escalation, to St. Catharines City Council, and as a Niagara Regional Councillor had voted to “sanction himself” from Russia (an international issue) even though that is not how sanctions against individuals work. These are just as much international issues as Palestine.
He had proposed a multi-faith town hall as perhaps a way to make up for this, but was advised by the City’s Anti-Racism Advisory Committee that this would be racist as the Palestine issue is not a faith issue, and also that there would be harm caused by not taking necessary steps for such a public forum.
The mayor moved ahead with the forum anyway, changing it to a DEI forum. As the City’s Anti-Racism Advisory Committee warned him, there was harm done at the forum, towards a tans woman. The City’s Anti-Racism Advisory Committee then asked for an apology to be made to the trans woman and asked for offers of supports such as counseling to those who were harmed, but the mayor refused to apologize or offer supports such as counseling.
He also supported an anti-encampment by-law (related to a mayoral direction he gave staff), misleadingly calling it a public space by-law that led the Niagara Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(e) Other I believe in equity, fairness,
equality and justice for all regardless of race, color, ethnicity or
religious belief. I oppose racism, discrimination, hate and intimidation in
all forms. As a candidate and, if elected, as
Mayor, I would support publicly condemning hate-based organizations and
activities and advocate for a community where everyone is treated with
dignity, respect and fairness. Our diversity is part of what makes St. Catharines
and Niagara strong, and leadership should bring people together rather than
divide them. I would also support working with
community organizations, law enforcement and other levels of government to address
hate and discrimination while respecting the rights and freedoms protected by
law. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(c) Other I unequivocally condemn the
ideology, crimes and hatred associated with Nazism and all forms of racism,
antisemitism and discrimination. Public officials are held to a high
standard and must maintain the trust and confidence of the communities they
serve. Actions or conduct that undermine that trust deserve serious
reflection and accountability. My focus as a candidate is on
building a community rooted in respect, inclusion, fairness and dignity for all
people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or background. St. Catharines
and Niagara are strongest when we stand together against hate and work to
create welcoming communities for everyone. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(c) Other I believe racism, antisemitism, hate
and discrimination are serious issues and should never be dismissed as
distractions. At the same time, elected officials must be accountable for
their conduct and uphold the trust placed in them by the public. My position is consistent; equity, fairness,
equality and justice must apply to everyone regardless of race, color,
ethnicity or religious belief. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(a) Yes I do not have, have never had, and
will never have Nazi memorabilia. I reject Nazism, antisemitism, racism, and
all forms of hate and discrimination. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
a. Yes |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(c) Other I believe comments that may reinforce
stereotypes about Indigenous peoples should be taken seriously and addressed
with sensitivity and accountability. Indigenous people have the same rights,
dignity and entitlement to participate in our communities as everyone else. My position is clear,
racism and discrimination have no place in St. Catharine or Niagara. We must
listen to Indigenous communities, learn from their concerns, and work
together to build a community based on equity, fairness, equality and justice
for all. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(c) Other Municipal governments should apply a
consistent and equitable standard when responding to international humanitarian
crises. While foreign policy is primarily the responsibility of senior levels
of government, municipalities can appropriately express concern for human
rights, civilian safety and humanitarian needs. My position is that every civilian
life has equal value, and our community should support peace, dignity, safety
and justice for all people, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or religion. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
b.
Believe governments should express support for
Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Anthony A. Adeoye |
(e) Other I believe the reported disparity in
use of force incidents involving Black residents must be taken seriously and addressed
transparently. Data showing a significant racial disparity warrants a
thorough, independent review of the contributing factors, meaningful
engagement with Black communities, and clear accountability for addressing
any systemic barriers or discriminatory practices identified. As Mayor, I would support evidence based action to improve trust, transparency,
accountability, and equitable treatment in policing. Every resident deserves
to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, regardless of race, color,
ethnicity, or religious belief. |
|
Henry Bosch |
Response not received yet |
|
Jimmy Jackson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Mat Siscoe (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Ann-Marie Zammit |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Matt Aymar |
Response not received yet |
|
Geoff Crane |
Response not received yet |
|
Ashlee Davidson-Miller |
Response not received yet |
|
Jackie Lindal (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Jim Adair |
Response not received yet |
|
Bryan Blue |
Response not received yet |
|
Noel Buckley |
Response not received yet |
|
Adriana Clifford |
Response not received yet |
|
Matt Harris (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Catherine McNabb |
Response not received yet |
|
Tom Neale |
Response not received yet |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Voted against Palestine support motions as a Niagara
Regional Councillor.
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Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
b. Commit to
publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected
official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to
condemn these groups publicly |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
a.
Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
a. Yes |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
a.
Yes |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis c. Other: Based on how council has responded to other global issues with statements of solidarity, governments should show support for Palestine. The precedent has been set and Palestine should be no different than other countries. On a deeper level, we should be examining whether municipal politics is the appropriate place to effectively respond to global issues. |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Mike Britton |
Response not received yet |
|
Alexander Miller |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
|
Sal Sorrento (special note) |
No valid email to send survey |
|
Mark Stevens (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kevin Townsend (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Werneburg |
a.
Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara
Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an
apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black
people |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Seconded the anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
Represented the City on behalf of the mayor at a “rally for Israel,” her Instagram post (now removed):
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(b) Yes. The Dominion Society promotes removing people from Canada, including citizens, based on who they are. I condemn it now, and I will if elected. I would support council saying so on the record. The City also has practical tools. It can enforce its rules on unauthorized posters on public property, and it can make sure its facility rental terms address hate-promoting events, within the law. |
|
Noah Machek |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
b.
Commit to publicly condemning these groups,
now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the
government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(a) Buying and keeping a copy of Mein Kampf autographed by Hitler is incompatible with public office. His resignation was the right outcome. |
|
Noah Machek |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(Other) It is a serious matter
in its own right. Judgment is part of the job, and residents are
entitled to that standard from the people who hold office. Holding it doesn't
compete with delivering services. Council can do both. |
|
Noah Machek |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
b. Believe
top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf
is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(a) Yes
My father grew up
in post-war Germany, on a Canadian Army Base while my grandfather served as a
transport warrant officer. I do not have, have never had, and will never have
Nazi memorabilia. |
|
Noah Machek |
a. Yes |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
a.
Yes |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(b) Indigenous people have every right
to be in public anywhere in Niagara. The evacuees were here because they needed
safe shelter. I agree with Kashechewan, Nishnawbe
Aski Nation, the Chiefs of Ontario, and the Niagara Regional Native Centre
that the comments reinforced a harmful stereotype. |
|
Noah Machek |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
b.
Agree with the Kashechewan,
Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre
in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(Other) Going forward, I'd hold council to
one standard: city council should not take positions on international
conflicts, any of them. Council has no role in foreign policy. A council that
speaks on some conflicts and not others invites
exactly the double-standard concern your question raises. Council does have a
role here at home. Residents of St. Catharines with family in Gaza, the West
Bank, Israel, or Ukraine are our neighbours. Protecting all of them from
antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism is City business. |
|
Noah Machek |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
b.
Believe governments should express support for
Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Grant Higginson |
(Other) Policing is a Niagara Region
responsibility, governed by the Police Service Board. A city councillor has
no direct authority over it. My position is this. The Service's own
race-based use-of-force data shows Black residents are subject to force at a
rate far above their share of the population. A gap that size needs three
things from the Board and the Chief: a public explanation, a plan with measurable
targets, and annual reporting against the same data. Other services have
acknowledged what their own data showed and apologized, and I'd support the
Board doing the same. As a councillor, I'd support St. Catharines council
formally asking the Board to respond. That would be advocacy, clearly
labelled, because the decision is the Board's. |
|
Noah Machek |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
|
Allen McKay |
Response not received yet |
|
Robin McPherson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Caleb Ratzlaff |
a.
Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara
Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology
and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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Moved the anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
a. No
b. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
c. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe |
Response not received yet |
|
Dawn Dodge (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Dunsin Fakorede |
Response not received yet |
|
Emmanuel Oneka |
Response not received yet |
|
Bill Phillips (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Shortcut to questions white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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Voted for anti-encampment by-law that led the Niagara
Region Native Centre (NRNC) to boycott the City’s Indigenous People’s Day flag
raising as the unhoused are disproportionately Indigenous, and the NRNC was
not consulted per memorandum with the City.
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
e) Other - I oppose and will stand up against racism, white supremacy and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Canadian citizens should not be removed from our country because of their racial or ethnic background. Canada has always been a diverse country, and citizenship is not determined by race. At the same time I believe local councillors need to be careful about how they respond to extremist organizations so that we do not inadvertently amplify their message or provide them with the attention they are seeking. Where groups promote hatred or intimidation in our community I believe we should speak in a unified voice against them, while advocating for police involvement when laws are broken. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
c) Other - I condemn Nazism,
antisemitism and the hatred represented by Nazi ideology. Historical
artifacts can have legitimate educational and research purposes, so I would
not make a blanket statement that possessing any Nazi-era artifact is
inherently wrong. However, when you hold a position of public trust and own a
personally authenticated, Hitler-autographed copy of Mein Kampf that understandably
raises serious concerns regarding judgment. Councillors need to recognize the
impact this can have on Jewish residents and others whose families were
affected by the Holocaust and persecution. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
c) Other - Antisemitism, racism and
hatred are serious issues and should not be dismissed by City Councillors, as
we are the representatives
closest to the people. However we also
have a responsibility to continue addressing many other important issues
facing residents. We must be capable of taking concerns like this seriously
while continuing to do the day-to-day work residents elected us to do. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
d) Other - I do not own Nazi
memorabilia or propaganda and have no interest in collecting it. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
c) Other - I believe context matters
when assessing anyone’s comments. My understanding is that the former CAO was
describing a perception he had encountered in the community and did state the
Kashechewan residents were not homeless. With that
said, I understand why Indigenous leaders and evacuees found the language to
be very hurtful. They were displaced from their homes because of a serious
infrastructure failure (contaminated drinking water) and deserved to be
welcomed to Niagara and treated with dignity. When our words unintentionally
cause harm or reinforce stereotypes, we should listen to those affected,
learn from the experience and work to build understanding rather than
becoming defensive. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
c) Other - I believe municipal
governments should be consistent about their role in international conflicts.
Foreign policy is primarily the responsibility of the federal government and
city councils should remain focused on the services and responsibilities
within their jurisdiction. Of course that does not
mean we should be indifferent to human suffering. I have compassion for the
millions of innocent civilians affected by war and conflict around the world,
whether they are Palestinian, Israeli, Ukrainian or from elsewhere.
Councillors also have a responsibility to ensure residents here in St.
Catharines feel safe and welcome and to condemn racism and hatred when they
affect our community. Our values and principles should be applied
consistently regardless of which international conflict is involved. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Marty Mako (special note) |
e) Other - I am a strong supporter
of data and evidence-based decision making. Use-of-force data should be used
to identify disparities, understand their root causes and determine what
changes may be necessary. Conclusions about systemic racism should not be
made lightly, and must be based on a thorough, independent analysis including
the circumstances surrounding use-of-force incidents, policing practices and
other contributing factors. This must be followed by measurable, transparent action
where problems are identified. No service is perfect and should always be
open to making improvements. Police must continually work to earn the trust
of every demographic they serve, in particular from
equity seeking communities. Accountability and transparency are essential to
that trust. |
|
Constantina O'Reilly |
Response not received yet |
|
Bruce Williamson (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Special question for trustee candidates:
Niagara-related school boards have
not published suspension rates by race, which neighbouring school boards have, showing Black students
are disproportionately suspended.
Will you advocate and vote for
publishing suspension rates by race data within a year of being elected?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
a.
Yes,I have brought this forward with
senior staff a few times, but more recently, the concern is that the results
-- if they show black students are disproportionately suspended -- will be
used by racist groups to promote mass deportations and other disgusting
actions. |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
a.
Yes |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
b.
I
am actively involved in public condemnation of these groups and in poster
reporting and removal, especially when the posters appear near high schools.
Most recently in the vicinity of Laura Secord and Sir Winston Churchill. |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
a.
I
shared the NRARA's posts about this issue with my unsurprised response. I
have never been a fan of Bob Gale's actions in public office. |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
a. Yes |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
a.
Yes |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
b.
Agree with the Kashechewan,
Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre
in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
Back to DSBN top
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
b.
Believe governments should express support for
Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
Back to DSBN top
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
M. Areeb Aijaz |
Response not received yet |
|
Jennifer Ajandi |
Response not received yet |
|
Kate Baggott |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
|
Matthew Bradman |
Response not received yet |
|
Mike Brousseau |
a.
Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara
Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an
apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black
people |
|
Lauren Bubnic |
Response not received yet |
|
Jonathan Fast |
Response not received yet |
|
Amir Ismael |
Response not received yet |
|
Mark Matchem |
Response not received yet |
|
Marwa Salih |
Response not received yet |
Back to DSBN top
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NCDSB (English Catholic) Trustee
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Made an analogy
between the pride and Nazi flags
Back to NCDSB top
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Says he is against DEI on his campaign material.
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Special question for trustee candidates:
Niagara-related school boards have
not published suspension rates by race, which neighbouring school boards have, showing Black students
are disproportionately suspended.
Will you advocate and vote for
publishing suspension rates by race data within a year of being elected?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
a. Yes |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
a.
Yes |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
Back to NCDSB top
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly nse not received yet |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
a. Yes |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
a. Yes |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism. |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Rhianon Burkholder (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people I do believe we as elected official have still a lot of work to do and need to make all of our schools and environment that is safe and inclusive. |
|
Matthew Simatovic (Ward 1 - Merritton) |
Response not received yet |
|
Natalia Benoit (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
|
Larry Huibers (Ward 2 to 6) |
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people |
|
Alex McKee (Ward 2 to 6) |
Response not received yet |
|
Jake Scervino (Ward 2 to 6) (special note) |
Response not received yet |
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Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Special question for trustee candidates:
Niagara-related school boards have
not published suspension rates by race, which neighbouring school boards have, showing Black students
are disproportionately suspended.
Will you advocate and vote for publishing
suspension rates by race data within a year of being elected?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSV top
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White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
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Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSV top
Back to page top
The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSV top
Back to page top
Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSV top
Back to page top
Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Amanda Leduc |
Response not received yet |
|
Marcel Tikeng |
Response not received yet |
|
Matthew Graham |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSV top
Back to page top
Shortcut to questions suspension rates white supremacists Hitler Debacle Anti-Indigenous comments Palestine Niagara Police
Special question for trustee candidates:
Niagara-related school boards have
not published suspension rates by race, which neighbouring school boards have, showing Black students
are disproportionately suspended.
Will you advocate and vote for
publishing suspension rates by race data within a year of being elected?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
Back to page top
White supremacist groups like the Dominion Society are postering across Niagara promoting mass deportations (rebranded as “remigration” even though they want to deport non-migrants i.e. citizens as well). Until recently some municipalities like St. Catharines deliberately avoided publicly addressing this out of concern it would incentivize these groups to increase their activity. Other cities like Hamilton have publicly condemned hate groups like the Dominion Society, and last week were joined by West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, and the mayor of St. Catharines.
Do you:
a. Believe it’s better not to give attention to these groups by condemning them
b. Commit to publicly condemning these groups, now as a candidate, and as an elected official, and to advocating that the government body you are elected to condemn these groups publicly
c. Believe these are not white supremacist groups or there is nothing wrong with their postering
d. Support the idea of “remigration” promoted by these groups
e. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
Back to page top
Niagara Regional Council Chair Bob Gale resigned mere hours after he was exposed for buying, owning, and authenticating Nazi memorabilia. The mayors of Niagara Falls and Pelham said he did nothing wrong and is just a collector, while the mayor of St. Catharines said this was a distraction from “really important” things. Very few elected officials condemned Bob Gale.
Do you:
a. Condemn Bob Gale for owning Nazi memorabilia
b. Believe Bob Gale did nothing wrong
c. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Do you also:
a. Believe this scandal is a distraction from “really important” issues
b. Believe top officials collecting autographed hate propaganda like Mein Kampf is a “really important” issue and racism, not a distraction
c. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
At a press conference on April 2nd Minister Flack was asked how another “Hitler debacle” could be avoided. Can you confirm you do not have, nor have you ever had, nor will you ever have, Nazi memorabilia?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It’s your personal business or doesn’t matter
d. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
Back to page top
The Niagara Falls mayor said it was “out of context,” “misconstrued,” and a “split hair” to condemn comments by the ex-CAO at a City Council meeting saying Indigenous evacuees out in public would be seen as “homeless” by residents.
Statements by the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre condemned the ex-CAO’s comments for reinforcing stereotypes and ignoring that all Indigenous peoples have every right to be on their own land.
Do you:
a. Believe the ex-CAO’s comments were taken “out of context,” “misconstrued,” or a “split hair”
b. Agree with the Kashechewan, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, and Niagara Regional Native Centre in condemning the ex-CAO’s comments for amplifying racism.
c. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
Back to page top
Niagara Regional Council and several municipalities like St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Lincoln have passed motions supporting Ukraine, and some motions supported military escalation.
Niagara Regional Councillors also unanimously “sanctioned” themselves from Russia, which is not how sanctions against individuals work.
Niagara Regional Council also lit their “Everyone Welcome” sign in Israel’s colours and the City of St. Catharines officially sided with Israel (“rally for Israel”) in a statement by a city councillor on behalf of the mayor.
Yet many elected officials said expressing similar support for Palestinians is out of their jurisdiction, would be divisive, or would be traumatizing.
Do you:
a. Believe Palestine is not a municipal issue and so should not be addressed, though Ukraine and Israel are
b. Believe governments should express support for Palestinians, they did for Ukrainians and Israelis
c. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
Back to page top
Niagara Regional Police have had the second worst disproportional use of force against Black people (% of use of force incidents vs % of population) in the province since publishing this data was required by the Ontario Anti-Racism Act. It has been up to almost 10x disproportional: in 2025, 26% of the use of force was against Black people who were less than 3% of the population in the 2021 census. This is the same as Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, which the US Department of Justice called “discriminatory.”
Neighbouring police forces such as Hamilton, Peel and Toronto, who are less disproportional than Niagara, have apologized for their own systemic racism in their disproportional use of force.
Yet the Police Chief, when he was Deputy Chief, said the data shows there is no systemic racism in the Niagara Police. One Police Board member who is running for mayor of Wainfleet had said in 2020 as a Niagara Regional Councillor that systemic racism is a “shadowy term…bandied about.”
To our knowledge none of the Police Board members have mentioned disproportional use of force against Black people, including the Board Chair who used to be co-chair of the Police Chief’s Community Inclusion Council, and one Board member who is a Regional Councillor and chairs the Niagara Regional Council’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Do you:
a. Condemn systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police based on their own use of force by race data and call for an apology and addressing the disproportional use of force by race against Black people
b. Believe data does not show systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police
c. Believe “systemic racism” is a “shadowy term…bandied about”
d. Both b and c
e. Other:
|
Melinda Chartrand |
Response not received yet |
Back to CSM top
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