Niagara Region took another step on the road to rebuilding its reputation with a formal commendation for people who "strived to uphold its integrity last term."

Corruption at the highest level was documented in Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube's report "Inside Job," and in articles by St. Catharines Standard reporter Grant LaFleche.

"Hopefully, this sets the stage so we can move forward," said St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, who made the motion. "'Inside Job' is now part of the vernacular for what was done here as a Region."

The motion thanked the Niagara daily newspapers for their "integrity and professionalism in reporting on matters that were of significant community interest and changed the face of the politics of Niagara."

The ombudsman and LaFleche detailed secret contracts and efforts to corrupt the normal hiring process that helped Carmen D'Angelo become chief administrative officer for the Region in 2016. The corruption was accompanied by efforts of a cabal of councillors to bully and silence the regime's critics.

Sendzik also thanked St. Catharines Couns. Brian Heit and Kelly Edgar, as well as two former members of council, Bill Hodgson of Lincoln and Dave Augustyn of Pelham.

"Seeing what they were subjected to, and the attacks on their integrity, is something that will stay with me as an elected member of this body for a long time," Sendzik said.

"These individuals were pushing back against actions they were seeing that were harming the institution. I just want to acknowledge them for their work, as well as the work of Grant LaFleche at The St. Catharines Standard.

"It was that relentlessness that helped to uncover what we had seen. Thanking the journalists shines a light on the fact that local journalism, the local media, plays an important role."

LaFleche won awards from the Canadian Association of Journalists and at the National Newspaper Awards and Ontario Newspaper Awards. The newspaper was also recognized with a citation of merit at the annual Michener Awards - one of the highest distinctions in Canadian journalism.

Sendzik said he was afraid of what might have happened in the absence of anyone exposing what was going on in regional government over the past four years,

"I also want to acknowledge the (Region) staff and what they were subjected to. They didn't want to put up their hands . They feared for their jobs and their livelihood. It was ruthless in the way staff were attacked.

"I am saying this personally. I'm not saying this as a corporation. I am not putting us in jeopardy, but as an individual, I saw it, and I got the phone calls from the staff who were upset by what they were seeing."

Sendzik also acknowledged the public, including activist Ed Smith who he said really pushed hard to uncover what was happening.

William.Sawchuk@niagaradailies.com

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