The topic of some controversy in recent months, the Procedural Bylaw amendment was defeated 17 NO and 12 YES at Niagara Region council in a recorded vote, on Sept 22, 2022.
Just prior to the vote, the most controversial subsection was referred back to committee in an attempt to save the rest of the amendment. The referral motion was made by Siscoe and seconded by Ip, both of whom had prior defended the section.
The debate about the Bylaw amendment began when the issue was raised by St. Catharines regional councillor Mike Britton during council discussion on the Procedural Bylaw Committee minutes on July 21.
Britton asked council to amend the Bylaw amendment by removing a section which would give permission to regional staff to block delegates. After some debate, council was split 14-14, and the tie was resolved by chair Bradley, who said he would go with the committee’s recommendation.
But that vote was simply to accept the minutes of the committee, not for the bylaw itself. The following meeting, on August 24, four delegates spoke against the Procedural Bylaw amendment. Council and delegates engaged in discussion. Later that night, the issue was referred to the Sept 22 meeting.
On Sept 22, another delegate spoke against the Procedural Bylaw, and the vote immediately followed.
The failed bylaw amendment was the year’s work of the Procedural Bylaw Committee.
Voted No:
Britton, Bylsma, Campion, Chiocchio, Diodati, Disero, Easton, Fertich, Gale, Huson, Jordan, Junkin, Nicholson, Redekop, Rigby, Villella, Witteveen
Voted Yes:
Butters, Edgar, Foster, Greenwood, Heit, Insinna, Ip, Sendzik, Siscoe, Steele, Ugulini, Whalen
Did not vote:
Zalepa, Gibson
