KNOW THE FACTS
Decisions made at Town Hall shape what Niagara-on-the-Lake looks like, what we pay, and how well our town holds up when the weather turns. But the facts are often buried in council minutes, staff reports and budget documents few people have time to read. Know the Facts brings them into the open, one issue at a time. Each card is drawn from public records, and lists its sources, and shows how council voted where a vote was recorded. Click each image to download the PDF.
Our goal is simple: give every voter the facts they need to make an informed choice this October.
#01 Parliament Oak
Learn how a single council vote changed what can be built on one of Old Town's most important community sites, and who voted which way. It matters because the decision set a precedent: other former schools, churches and public sites in NOTL could now face the same pressure.
#02 Town Taxes
See how much the Town's share of your tax bill has grown compared with the cost of living, and how that stacks up against our neighbours. It matters because every increase builds on the last, and residents deserve to know who approved them.
#03 Unused Approvals
Find out what happens when land is approved for development but nothing gets built, and what new tools Ontario has given towns to deal with it. It matters because unused approvals tie up land and servicing capacity that NOTL needs for real homes.
#04 Flooding
Understand why parts of St. Davids and Virgil keep flooding, and how growth decisions have moved ahead of a permanent fix. It matters because heavier storms are becoming more common, and the cost of waiting falls on homeowners.
#05 Development Charges
Learn what development charges are, how NOTL's compare with nearby towns, and where the money collected from growth is sitting today. It matters because when growth doesn't pay its fair share, existing taxpayers make up the difference.
