Jim Thibert. Bullet News file photo by Peter Conradi.
JAMES CULIC/Niagara This Week
FORT ERIE – The final chapter of the saga between Fort Erie’s council and the head of its Economic Development and Tourism Corporation came to a quiet conclusion last week at Town Hall.
A motion from Ward 6 Coun. Paul Collard to have Jim Thibert, the general manager of the EDTC, give an “apology to the affected parties” was defeated.
The motion stems from a budget meeting last month where Thibert delivered a presentation which several councillors later described as containing “colourful language.”
“This motion says that council is displeased, but, I am not personally displeased,” said Ward 1 Coun. Stephen Passero.
Mayor Doug Martin or Ward 2 Coun. Rick Shular both agreed and didn’t support drafting a letter to the EDTC board to have Thibert come before council and apologize.
“I really see no merit in extending this situation any further, people on both sides have already vented their positions,” said Shular.
Rounding out the majority in the 4-3 vote was council’s representative on the EDTC, Ward 4 Coun. John Hill, who agreed with Passero and said he was not personally displeased with Thibert’s presentation and therefore didn’t supporting sending a letter which said “council” is displeased.
“It is debateable whether or not some of the comments were inappropriate, but I’m not going to get into that again,” said Hill.
The unsuccessful motion from Collard was supported by Ward 5 Coun. Don Lubberts, and Ward 3 Coun. Bob Steckley.
Lubberts and Collard previously called for Thibert’s resignation, and both voted to cut off funding to the EDTC until he was removed, but were unsuccessful in mustering a majority of support during budget debates.
During that budget meeting, Steckley said an apology would be made for the colourful comments, but Thibert – who was in attendance for the meeting – chirped from the back of the room that he would not be apologizing.
In a letter to media, Thibert defended the comments he made during the presentation, saying they were used for “literary effect” and “brevity.
(For more news, sports and entertainment from Niagara This Week, please visit www.niagarathisweek.com.)
One Comment on "FORT ERIE: Economic development chief won’t be forced to apologize for budget comments"
A lot of drama and for what? Real estate values in fort Erie are among the lowest in Ontario. Is there something wrong with this picture? Until all 3 levels of government step up and do their jobs, Fort Erie will forever be the Mississippi of Canada