Niagara Parks "Century Club" 2009

Ontario Legislature - March 7, 1963

Mr. MacDonald: I would like to say just one word about the Niagara Parks Commission. The government had a policy, make no mistake about it. It is a leftover, but as far as the Niagara Parks Commission is concerned, its policy is a little family affair. In fact, I am quoting from the former Prime Minister of this province, who when we drew attention to the fact that it did not tender in the normal procedure, and it did not do a lot of things in accordance with normal business procedure, said, "Well, let us not interfere. Down in the Niagara Peninsula, it is a little family affair. Just let them run their own business— local autonomy and all the rest of it."

This is in fact what it is. What happens, as far as the Niagara Parks Commission is concerned, is that a public property is handed over to a group of men who operate it virtually as private property. It is a private club, and the hon. member over here is quite correct. He speaks not without some information—because he was in there for six years —when he says that the important thing is not what happens at the meetings and what gets into the minutes, but what happens after the meetings and between the meetings, when they have a really good drink in the refectory or whatever they call it.

As far as the employees are concerned, it is like a feudal domain. They are hired at the pleasure of the people who, as private individuals, are using public property. They are fired if it suits their purpose. Maybe you have to put the former hon. Minister of Labour completely out to pasture. Maybe that is the answer. Get somebody else in there.

The Bundle of Sticks