"I think we all get that the mouldy 110-year-old George needed to be rebuilt or replaced. But few expected Shaw Inc — the real-estate development company that used to just put on plays — would propose something of this magnitude," writes Garth Turner.
"It falls back on us to exercise every effort to choose representatives that are committed to ongoing public consultation, adhering to the direction of their constituents and steadfastly fulfilling the promises they made," writes Brian Marshall.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake needs elected leaders who oppose provincial top-down amalgamation schemes designed to erode local decision-making authority, increase property taxes, and compromise services," writes Wayne Gates.
"I feel a bit sorry for local realtors, landscapers, painters and other folks who traditionally use lawn signs to market their services," writes Ross Robinson. "I guess they just have to grin and bear it for a few weeks every four years."
"The town has the right rules. They work only if the people bound by them follow them, and if council insists that they do. Ask the candidates seeking your vote whether they will," writes Kathryn Podrebarac.
"The more convinced a state becomes that it can compel outcomes, the more likely it is to underestimate the will of others. It forgets that those on the receiving end have agency too," writes Keith McNenly.
"The current council members, if elected, will probably continue to make decisions which will benefit private commercial interests instead of the community’s best interests," writes Wayne Murray.
"Growers can look forward to an improved irrigation system in the near future," writes Kevin Buis, chair of Niagara-on-the-Lake's irrigation committee.
Two years ago, The Lake Report published the results of a survey carried out indicating a mid- term approval rating of the existing council ... Some of the rates are embarrassingly low," writes Derek Collins.
"Clearly the table was set when our outgoing elected officials, with their re-election aspirations in mind, passed a 2.19 per cent property tax increase for 2026," writes Samuel A. Young.
"Right now, the smart money leans towards the idea that, where private insurance falls short, homeowners and other flood victims are out of luck. As Premier Ford might say: 'I got my photo-ops, and now I don’t owe ya nothin,'" writes Kevin McCabe.
"The premier should rethink the new governance model he is imposing on Niagara Region, call a vote to elect the council chair, take back the strong chair powers he has bestowed on the position, put an end to strong-mayor powers and eliminate weighted voting at the regional council table," writes Terry Davis.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake’s appeal as a place to live is connected to its success as a place to visit. Protecting the quality of life residents cherish requires understanding what helps make it possible," writes David Coletto.
"I must say this issue of The Lake Report is extremely comprehensive and informative for all residents who are making up their minds about whom to vote for," writes Kaspar Pold.
"In the event the candidates endorsed by the correspondent lose their election, are we to anticipate the correspondent will maintain an aggressive, negative and opinionated articles against the winner that he did not support?" writes Derek Insley.
"The human brain is wired in favour of frequent and chronic complainers, and all of the psychology behind the SORE and NOTLRA type groups is not helpful to a prosperous and happy future for this beautiful little town," writes Peter Rusin.
"So, what direction will NOTL voters choose? That’s impossible to predict but what we do know is it has never been easier to exercise your democratic franchise," writes Kevin MacLean.
"At the end of the day, we need someone who can get Ford to respect us until we can try again to vote him out. The question, I guess, becomes, what’s the best strategy?" writes Richard Harley.
"If we elect the same people (and most are reoffering) we’ll get the same result. More hotels. More bending over for tourism. More construction. More old buildings razed. More density. More compromise. More loss," writes Garth Turner.
"If you are one of the approximately 191,000 Niagara residents that live outside the boundaries of the three large cities, you have just been marginalized as a perpetual member of the minority," writes Brian Marshall.
"He had the large sculpture placed in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel, but local leaders didn’t think it belonged at the corner of King and Queen streets. Much controversy ensued and Gerry the Giraffe was soon turfed," writes Ross Robinson.
"Creation stories have been a feature of most human societies, and most have a beginning. So also with science although Isaac Newton’s universe had no beginning or end and was true for cosmology for the early 20th century," writes Dr. William Brown.
"Ask what was promised. Ask what was accomplished. Ask how council responded when residents spoke. Ask how individual councillors voted on the issues that mattered to you," writes Scott Gauld.
"I am much more interested in what candidates have said about 'how' they will prove to the community they are trustworthy through specific publicly verifiable actions," writes Geoffrey Fisher.
"I am struggling to see through the words that the candidates publish in their campaign materials (“responsible development,” “resident-first government,” “heritage preservation”) to determine how they will vote on the critical issues that will come before council over the next four years," writes John Foreman.
"Wiens says absolute no to amalgamation, but two years ago, there he was ... feting and supporting Doug Ford’s election, who, it turns out, is hell-bent on dismantling NOTL government in favour of amalgamating us into a megalopolis," writes Bob Bader.
"We must elect a mayor who will bring their own style of leadership, building on what the current council has achieved, protect our beloved town from amalgamation and position us for the future. That mayor is Erwin Wiens," writes Peter Warrack.
"Let's ensure the province hears loud and clear that Niagara-on-the-Lake's history, economy and future cannot be reduced to a rounding error," writes Judith Barnes.
"When we vote for our next lord mayor or local councillors, consider who will have the courage to make the bold quantum leap changes needed to address the affordability crisis," Harry Schlange.
