The Garden City Refugee

Real Talk With City Staff

April 15, 2026

Emboldened by the weakness of the current council and especially the “mayor,” who spends more time posing for selfies these days than doing the job you and I are paying him for, the wildly overpaid staff at the City of St. Catharines have effectively been governing us by decree. They make policy decisions and impose their political beliefs, then object to the scrutiny they get, as evidenced by this recent posting on Facebook, likely from one of the many on the Sunshine List:

The bloody gall, I thought. So since, as usual, the thin-skinned staff don’t allow comments on anything where they might expect to get criticism, I’ll respond on my own forum.

City staff, I shouldn’t have to post this, but I need to–so time for some real talk.

I want to see healthy discussion and interaction on social media again. Because right now, you don’t encourage comments, shares, discussion and debate unless the poster is in full agreement with the views of City staff. In fact, comments from those who object to your decisions are hidden and posters like me are shadow-banned. Your contempt for the taxpayers you rule with impunity couldn’t possibly be more obvious if you put a flashing blue light on your heads.

Every time I attend budget meetings, I am constantly reminded of the “strong mayor” legislation Doug Ford’s Liberal government passed. Similar legislation is coming for the regional chairs. Yet there’s been nothing out of Queen’s Park indicating that there will be any “strong staff” legislation coming. Yet you and council operate as if such legislation is in place. You act as if we work for you and not the other way around. Our councilors, in fact, routinely practice a near reverential deference to your views.

So, in summary, if you want us to stop insulting City staff, stop bossing us around and consider treating us, the little people who you expect to just pay our taxes and shut up, with some modicum of respect. Because, contrary to your belief, we have the right to criticize those in power. If you want that power, there’s going to be scrutiny which comes with that. That’s just the way it is. Especially considering that, unlike the politicians, you don’t have to go through the charade of facing voters every four years.

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.