Lococo wants province to open consultations into its Destination Niagara plans

Incoming Niagara Falls Mayor Lori Lococo wants the Ontario government to slow down its plans to implement its Destination Niagara strategy, which includes expanding the number of casinos in Niagara Falls, until more consultation with the local community takes place.

In a letter to Zee Hamid, Premier Doug Ford’s tourism minister, Lococo called on the province to begin more consultation with local stakeholders and residents. 

Lococo ran on several themes, including promoting greater affordability, in her successful bid to defeat four-term mayor Jim Diodati in his bid for an historic fifth term. Lococo ultimately defeated Diodati.

In calling for a provincially led public information or consultation process, Lococo said Niagara Falls residents deserve information that explains “the anticipated benefits, potential community impacts and proposed safeguards, including considerations related to local employment, infrastructure, municipal revenues and responsible gambling.” 

However, the Ford government is signalling that it doesn’t intend to slow down in its plans, with the premier saying “you can’t just sit back,” and insisting that Niagara Falls ought to become “the greatest destination in the world.” 

Hamid insisted that the government will continue to listen to local perspectives but says the Ford government’s focus is on promoting tourism and jobs via its Destination Niagara strategy. 

The Opposition parties, including both the New Democrats and Liberals, are calling on Ford and Hamid to listen to Lococo and launch more consultations. It should be noted that the Destination Niagara strategy was never warmly received by either Opposition party. 

The Ford government has already scrapped one part of its Destination Niagara strategy, which was to build a second ferris wheel overlooking Niagara Falls, after reaching an agreement with the existing ferris wheel’s operator to replace his ferris wheel with a bigger one. 

Lococo has said she isn’t outright opposed to Ford’s Destination Niagara strategy, noting that it could be a benefit for Niagara Falls in terms of employment. However, she says there are a lot of relevant factors to “consider.” 

Regardless, because municipalities are creatures of the provinces and this is a provincial plan, the Ford government can move forward even if Lococo has concerns about its Destination Niagara strategy. While mayors can encourage the province to reconsider policies, they simply don’t have the power to get provincial actors to change course. Lococo’s only real move should the Ford government continue to refuse to reopen its Destination Niagara strategy is to try to mobilize public opinion.