MPP Oosterhoff Welcomes Regional Delegation to Queen’s Park During Momentous Week for Niagara

Toronto – Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, welcomed a number of delegates of the Regional Municipality of Niagara to Queen’s Park this week, including Regional Chair, Jim Bradley, along with a number of local mayors, regional councillors and senior staff.

A highlight of the week of advocacy for the region was a joint federal and provincial announcement, Tuesday, welcoming Asahi Kasei Corporation’s investment of approximately $1.6 billion to build an electrical vehicle battery separator plant in Port Colborne, leading to thousands of important jobs for Niagara.

Niagara delegates were at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Monday to Wednesday, meeting in person with a number of provincial representatives and officials, including Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance; Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation; Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure; Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Hon Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

“As a local MPP, my legislative role is to bring the voice of Niagara to Queen’s Park,” said MPP Oosterhoff.

“Every day I work with my team to get the job done for the people of Niagara. This past week at Queen’s Park and in Niagara highlighted the progress that is being made in so many areas of our region, from building new hospitals and long-term care homes, to expanding rural broadband and adding more mental health services. I will always ensure my colleagues at Queen’s Park know that the world doesn’t end at the Burlington Skyway, and I will always work with our government to bring home Niagara’s fair share.”

Following the formal in-person sit-down meeting with the Niagara delegates at Queen’s Park on Monday, the Premier joined the Prime Minister and municipal leaders in Port Colborne, Tuesday, announcing the generational investment by Asahi Kasei.

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce engaged with elected Members and senior staff at Queen’s Park on Thursday, highlighting Niagara as an attractive region for business growth and cultural tourism.

Key priorities of the Niagara meetings included plans by the Niagara Region to build a new wastewater treatment plant in Niagara Falls, as well as the Region’s efforts to facilitate new housing and key employment lands to support economic development across the peninsula.

“As Niagara Week at Queen’s Park draws to a close, I am pleased to see the Ontario government’s openness to collaboration and cooperation on our priority issues,” said Jim Bradley, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

“I want to thank MPP Oosterhoff for both his support on making this event a success and his ongoing support for our community. I look forward to continuing to build on our already strong relationship with the province in the future as we work to grow better together.”

“The Ontario government and MPP Oosterhoff share our vision of Niagara as an economic and social success story,” said Mishka Balsom, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chamber feels that there is significant room for growth in Niagara’s cultural tourism sector, which is a big economic driver and part of a well-rounded community.”

The Ontario government is committed to working with local governments and municipal partners across the province to build safe and strong urban and rural communities with dynamic local economies, a high quality of life and attainable homes for everyone.

The Regional Municipality of Niagara is anticipated to grow to a population of 694,000 people and 272,000 jobs by the year 2051. The strategic goals of the Region are outlined in the 2022 Niagara Official Plan, a long-range land use planning document that sets out a vision for managing growth and future infrastructure needs across the peninsula.