WellandL3B21354 Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S12543Connectivity or ubiquitous, equitable access to the Internet is the single largest gap preventing Niagara Region from becoming a smart community. If we are to become a smart region we need to close this gap. Our present economic and social well-being depends on it. If we are to become competitive in the Internet of Things-driven future, ubiquitous Internet connectivity are the table stakes to get us into the game today.Broadband is an essential utility, as vital to economic growth as reliable electricity, clean water and good roads. Equitable access to the Internet over broadband should be a right of every Canadian as entrenched in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms based on the principle of "equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law,"(Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms), because in the digital age equitable access to the Internet is a determinant of one's equal access to healthcare, education, government and marketplaces. Between our communities throughout Niagara we don't enjoy equal equitable access to the Internet and our Region compared to the GTHA is disadvantaged. This affects each of our Charter Rights Rights under promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. St. CatharinesL2T52431 St. CatharinesL2P15432A smart city of connnectivity will have the basic infrastructure to communicate and engage with citizens. Digital connectivity will improve efficiency and a network to expand opportunities. With the aging population and a cultural shift of inclusion for persons with disabilities, a smart city of digital connectivity can integrate services and people more efficiently. Citizens have become disconnected by the highspeed of life demands and virtual relationships. WellandL3C54213without economic prosperity, there will not be a sustainable tax base from which to implement all other aspectsLack of permanent, full-time, living wage jobs has caused significant unemployment levels in Niagara (with Welland particularly impacted heavily). This has caused significant strain on tax base, resulting in poor infrastructure upgrades/maintenance, land development, and even residential property maintenance. This has been further compounded by the significant increase in property values in Niagara (Welland increased by over 30% in a single year), and lack of quality/affordable rentals - making it increasingly difficult for families to find and afford housing. St. CatharinesL2S51423Because it's a broad term and not one demographic benefits: All demographics benefit.All of Niagara Region is in need of a better intervention model for mental health. ThoroldL2V54321 St. CatharinesL2M34521Transportation in Niagara is extremely disconnected and unreliable. Traffic, especially during rush hour times, in St. Catharines and along the 406 is terrible. Any technology that would be able to better ease traffic congestion would be extremely welcome. Secondly, accessible and dependable transit it extremely important in Niagara. The disconnectedness between municipalities turns many people away from using transit. Additionally, the unreliability of transit is a problem. Often, people elect to use their own vehicles, instead of public transit, because often the bus is either late or doesn't show up. An app, or something of equivalence, similar to the transit app in London, Ontario would be amazing. London's transit app not only tells you when the next bus should arrive in real time at each stop, but the next two busses after it as well. Welland21543 PelhamL0S23541In Transportation I'm including Roads, which are the vital infrastructure for all activities. The Region's Roads, when not properly maintained (and/or replaced) negatively affect economic activity, recreation and sports (cycling in particular), and almost all aspects of community wellbeing.The issue all Niagara Municipalities face is the cost of keeping Roads and associated Road Allowance infrastructure in good working order. It's been proven time and again that being proactive with condition monitoring, frequent inspections, and timely Public reporting saves money (and sometimes lives). By using a combination of vehicle based condition monitoring on all Municipal vehicles (and potentially Public volunteers), tied to intelligent deterioration algorithms and timely repair notification and scheduling, costs can be dramatically reduced. Such technologies are readily available, very inexpensive to deploy, and will prepare the Region for when all new vehicles have surface condition monitors built-in (Land Rover in the UK is already doing this, so it's only a matter of time). This is a natural part of the Internet of Things revolution that's already gaining momentum. Niagara Region and all its Municipalities can be ready quickly and WITHOUT needing multi-year implementations of massive in-house software systems. St. CatharinesL2R1432We need more walkers and fewer cars. Let's get smart and reduce the number of cars and increase walking and using public transit. Please keep me posted I in my 11th year of Taking Niagara By Storm on Cogeco. I also sit not the council of TVOntario, where they ask what the hell is going on in Niagara?Use technology to reduce traffic. Develop parks with technology to make people use them correctly. Fort ErieL2A45321Public transit needs much improvement in this city. Without reliable, accessible and frequent buses I cannot participate in other happenings.1. 2016 rearrangement of the bus service resulting in a broken system. 2. Poor planning to preserve environmentally sensitive areas. I do not know anything about technology beyond my desktop computer Fort ErieL2A12543People need to be able to connect digitally given the distance they are required to travel for work, health care, etc.Medical care that is nearby. Connecting doctors digitally could save lives. Fort ErieL0S15423Our mental health system in the Niagara Region is terrible. I work at a youth shelter in Niagara Falls a lot of the youth suffer with mental health. They are falling through the cracks. They end up self medicating, self harming, continuously in and out of the hospital, or sadly commit suicide. These youth need help.Neglect of Mental Health care. Technology could improve access to mental healthcare and treatment by enabling services to be delivered more flexibly and tailored to a individuals needs. Fort ErieL2A321More affordable housing needed especially for seniorsNot enough work. Need to bring in some indutries. Our youth are leaving Fort Erie Fort ErieL2A32451Good paying jobs are much needed!!!Health care - We need more Dr's and our hospital needs to re-open or a full time 24/7 medical clinic needs to be built because Fort Erie is growing so rapidly. It's a 30 minute drive from the peace bridge to Niagara Hospital doing hwy speed on a good day, never mind traffic, construction, or weather delays. St. CatharinesL2N15243 We need to obtain meaningful employment with opportunities for upward growth in order to retain families in Niagara. It's beyond youth retention - we need reasons for people to stay with their families. We could use opportunities for innovation in support of small/medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs in moving Niagara towards a tech hub. How do we support growing the small businesses in Niagara? We are no longer going to obtain one company that employees hundreds of people, this is rare now. We have said in recent economic forums for Niagara that if we can support small businesses adding just 1 employee, we could move the employment / job opportunity yard stick forward for Niagara. Many smaller businesses are reluctant to invest in leading-edge technologies. Limited capital or the lack of the right staff might prompt even the most forward-thinking companies to avoid innovations or postpone such a move until they reach a certain revenue or profit goal. Connectivity with supply chains, access to resources GrimsbyL3M12435Any smart city must be connected. This means starting with items like smart street lights which provide network (public & private) and video surveillance. This also means connecting our community, and their IoT devices to a centralized data repository. These IoT devices today look like smart doorbells, video surveillance cameras, smart lighting and appliances. As this detail is collected we can build out better power distribution based on actual end user needs, better transportation by understanding when and where people are moving, safer communities by leveraging the surveillance of both public and private infrastructure tracking criminal activity and leading to reduced bad behavior and actually catching those in the act. We can understand data from everyone's connected device that they ate at the same restaurant and all ended up at the same hospital, or where all exposed to an outbreak in a public place. The possibilities are endless, but connectivity is key.Criminal activities, or suspicious behavior is on the rise. More end points collecting data, predicting events (ie. analyzing social media posts from our community members, tying this to places, dates, etc.) Collection of video from both private and public sources, housed and analyzed in a single data repository in real time with connectivity and alerting to authorities can make the community a safer place. I also feel that we need to be smarter about transportation planning as our city grows. We are housing more people, more densely creating more traffic. Understanding their personal behaviors/appointments/etc. gathered from connected devices can help schedule traffic lights. This information can be shared with local businesses to help them staff accordingly, we all know how busy Starbucks and Tim Hortons are at certain times. We also need to monitor the QEW, and feed this data real time into traffic systems to reduce congestion in the event of a shutdown. All of these require the network backbone to support the connectivity. In the end I envision a city provided internet, where we all connect and store our data. The city analyzes this data to support healthcare, education, traffic, arts, public safety, our businesses and citizens. Further information (scrubbed from personal identification) can be used for local retailers/advertisers who can assist in funding the overall program. Think Amazon cloud services (AWS) for the community, where the city analyzes data for better, smarter and safer community outcomes. West LincolnL0R51234Don't like criminals.Crime. More cameras. Fort ErieL2A2341Jobs provide for economic stability, community stability, and all round positive energy.Technology jobs would be good for our youth. Being a border community should enable attraction of tech firms LincolnL0R21345 WellandL3C12534Niagara is a vast landscape and much of the barriers between communities is the lack of connectivity - whether it be by modes of public transportation, access to high speed internet etc. Connectivity is what will bring us together and help us to function as a unified smart Niagara.Historically Welland was an industrial community with an abundance of good paying jobs . Over time, this industrial landscape has eroded and with it, so have the good paying jobs. I feel that employment (above the poverty line) is a significant challenge for my community. Perhaps better access to public transportation would be ideal to help alleviate this burden. Currently if you had to get to work in Fort Erie or Grimsby by public transit, your journey could be multiple hours in length. Technology could improve this. Once we have a single inter-municipal transit, access to information about public transit should be easier to obtain. Sensors could be leverage to tell you exactly where the bus/taxi etc. is and how long before it arrives at your stop. Apps could help commuters plan their trips. Linkage to other public transit agencies for trips to the GTA etc. could also occur e.g. Metrolinx, Go Transit, Greyhound etc. I'm sure there is a lot more that could be done, more than just one person could fathom. Great opportunity! Good Luck! St. CatharinesL2N31452This is a city with many people who depend on transit to get from point A to point B throughout their lives. Frankly the transit in this region is atrocious.Wireless accessibility through public WiFi throughout the city. Starting in the Downtown Core, spreading to other areas of the city. Using existing infrastructure to position WiFi repeaters at set distances so that people who are economically disadvantaged can still have access to the internet. St. CatharinesL2N41352Citizens cannot become their best unless their health and wellness is taken care of. Other, please specifyHamiltonL8T41523With economic prosperity, all other factors are positively impacted.Growth, economic development, business attractiveness that are stifled by conflicting provincial policies. Fort ErieL2A51342Free Wifi throughout our Town would help address the digital divide. Citizens can communicate easily with the Town Hall thereby engaging more citizens. Small businesses could be more professional and competitive. GrimsbyL3M13542Affects quality of life, often correlated with other areas Fort ErieL0S15432This area needs businesses and good jobsJobs and economic prosperity. Technology could help with jobs in the IT field. WellandL3C54231A community that is rich with Technology jobs will in turn drive the "Smart City" process. key examples are Waterloo and Silicon Valley. Both cities drive development and change in the city based on the technology being developed within the city.Skilled Employment opportunities is the largest issue the community is facing in that a more employment in technology will drive a more skilled workforce which will drive investment. GrimsbyL3M21345 Niagara FallsL2J32541Jobs and opportunities for all sectors of the community are vital for any vibrant economyquality jobs. recruiting leading firms in the technology sector that niagara is a viable locale to situate their company. Port ColborneL3K51423I think all areas of Niagara need to connect and have the same priorities as a region, we need to have policies that agree with one another no matter if you're in Port Colborne or Beamsville or Niagara Talls with regard to how we treat each other.Well one of thing things we desperately need is for people who are disabled , as I am, or seniors, as I will be soon, to be able to cross the streets in a timely fashion. Lights need to be longer and I think the region and technology can do this. We also need a more comprehensive policy on accessibility- not just ramps, but for restrauants ( audio menus) for the visually or print impaired. Where there are steps a regional mandate to paint them yellow. We also need to work on the compassionate community the mayor of St. Catharines has preposed and make that regional. Niagara FallsL2H13452The lack of a connected transportation system is a significant barrier in so many ways for our community. Niagara needs to become a great place for people to live who do not own a motor vehicle. Transportation needs to be easy to use, simple to understand and seamless across municipalities and link the Region to the rest of the GTA. There is also a leisure component to an effective transportation system as well. We need complete integration or our system with the services available to our community.See above. I think as we develop a transit plan we also need to incorporate into our community programs and services system. Telling people where to get off for what program and service (and being flexible enough to tell the community when a certain event is occurring at a certain location). WellandL3B15342We need to improve economic prosperity and bring jobs to NiagaraWe need more jobs which will increase the standard of living in Niagara. Port ColborneL3K32541The region needs more high paying jobs.Transit to other municipalities. Technology - an app that could track potential rider demand via survey., 3 simple questions - Where do you want to go? How frequently would you use transit? How long is an acceptable time on transit? GrimsbyL3M51324Economic Prosperity is necessary to providing and paying for the kind of community Niagarians should have. Economic prosperity fosters jobs, it creates housing, it promotes health and well-being. Issues of affordable housing, fostering an environment that creates a multi-cultural community fabric, transit availability within and throughout Niagara. GrimsbyL3M12354The time that it takes me to get to and from work increases year by year and i don't see any improvements to the road system, there is a significant growth of apartment buildings and townhouses near Casablanca that result in increased number of vehicles on the QEW but the number of lanes has not increased. I understand that there is a plan to improve public transit, this however does not help me in any way as i use my vehicle for work. Please consider improvements to our road system to help drivers.Traffic, Traffic, Traffic! use technology to provide alternative ways to link Niagara and the GTA, use new technology to cross the lake perhaps, the Channel Tunnel between England and France is approximately 50km, the distance to cross Lake Ontario in our area is approximately the same. WellandL3B123I believe if a community is open to all it has a better chance of survival Not being cohesive. Not sure how it can be repaired I ThoroldL2V31542 Fort ErieL0S14325 not enough police cruiser s on streetsolder community and now our paper newspaper is being dissolved,not everyone goes online for events an information. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S13254As machines take over more human jobs, there will be increasingly less opportunity for unskilled workers. Small businesses will inevitably fail as more conglomerates come in conglomerates who can order more stock and have the money to replace human jobs with machines to further reduce the cost to the consumer. Small businesses cannot compete with that. That being said, it's not a bad thing, but we need to prepare for it. When this reaches a pinnacle, the only small market left will be for specialized goods, like hand-knitted sweaters, art, or things that even if a machine did, we would rather have the human one, etc. To focus on encouraging art and science is to prepare for a future where people have nothing else to do. We need to encourage ways to occupy people, as ideas like minimum income come closer to reality.A significant issue is the Emerald Ash Borer invasive beetle that is destroying Ash trees. If possible, robotic insect technology could be developed to destroy the beetle population and development would open the door to extreme practical benefits for the region with regards to farming, pollination and even potential border security. PelhamL0S35124It helps everyone, no matter where you sit on the economic scale PelhamL0S32541Commuting takes up a large portion of my daySo much time spent driving (commuting, shopping) Having a SMART infrastructure (stop lights, speed limits, passing lanes) could integrate with Autonomous vehicles. Making driving safe, efficient, and allowing people to use the time more productively Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S5431In order to grow and keep young people here the we need stable employment opportunites Other, please specifyL2J53241Without opportunities for people to earn and be part of the community all others are just a wishlistwaste , duplication and overlap, too many organizations trying to do very similar things regardless of the efforts of others and very little collaboration, Example, Niagara Connects, as long as they stay employed by republishing other's finding along with other organizations there is very little concern for value, SHAME WellandL3B24351I believe if you are working close to your home, you are spending money closer to home. That means more money in the community. We have lost a lot of big industries. Although that was probably great for our environment, it was not great for good local jobs. We need to focus on new, environmentally friendly, industries with cutting edge technology. It is great to the new industries that have come in. We need more. We are focusing on transportation for people to get to their work in other cities, when we should be bringing the work to them instead. It is also great to see the wine industry always growing, but we need people in the community to work in these places. It is too easy for unemplyed people to chose not to work, rather than take whats out there. Niagara FallsL2E51432To live in Niagara one must have a place of employment not just seasonal workEmployment and city planning St. CatharinesL2R21543I chose People Getting Started because that is a field where no municipality is particularly excelling in Canada. Why not become the place known for having the most new grad opportunities? Especially with 2 major post secondary institutions within our Region.We have an aged population and a need for skilled workers, such as Nurses, to come to Niagara to support our community needs. We compete with other Tier 1 and Tier 2 Municipalities for the same people, yet we lose out due to them having perceived "Better opportunities" or "more opportunities". WellandL3C52134 St. CatharinesL2P53124Because our communities are lacking the environment care Fort ErieL2A43512I firmly believe that if public transportation was made more accessible, encouraged, added routes with more connections, like bigger cities and towns, this would benefit seniors, students, employees travelling for work, students needing out of town travel courses (e.g. Port Colborne and Niagara for courses Fort Erie does not offer) Port ColborneL3K3451230% of Canadians do not own a vehicle and yet our alternatives for transportation are insufficient as our cities were built around a vehicle-first model. Thus our transit is an afterthought rather than a viable alternative which people would willingly choose to utilize. On a separate note, mobile telecom costs in Canada are significantly higher than in other developed countries. While cellphones were originally thought as luxury items, their ubiquitous adoption indicates that this is not the case. However, our high costs place a higher burden on those disadvantaged sectors who are trying to keep up. Imagine being a teenager with no phone (which is essentially a social life line in today's society) because your parents cannot afford the monthly costs.See Question 4. Potential to combine both issues Transit - Create demand responsive transit options. These require the use of technology to develop an app that let's riders book/cancel trips, make payments, see when vehicles will arrive, etc. This type of technology can also be applied to our conventional transit stops to make using transit a more seamless, barrier free option. Consider a partnership with Uber/Lyft as being done in other cities including Innisfil. Mobile - Create a city/region wide wifi network using existing infrastructure as nodes. i.e. transit stops, municipal buildings, corporate partners, etc. By creating this network, you reduce the need for extensive mobile data plans AND you create hubs and opportunities to connect with other technology like connected transit. St. CatharinesL2P54132I am in my 30s and I recently purchased my first home. Prices are already very high and will get even higher in future, to top that up our population is growing. During my house hunting, I noticed that the basic design and layout of a house that is being built today is almost same as houses that were built 60-70 years ago. Yet everything else has changed so much, our phones, our entertainment options, our vehicles, our jobs have changed and will change even more in future. Given that we spend almost all of our lives in a house or other buildings, I think it is very important to build houses that can adapt to our future lifestyle. A house can last for more than 100 years, so we need to invest in building smart houses now, that we can afford and comfortably live in the future. For example, houses that are modular, which can enlarge and shrink during different phases of our lives. Houses with changing layouts, houses with usable four season outdoor space where people can grow their own food. Houses where garage can be transformed in an office or driveway that can be put to another use depending upon people's car needs. Using materials that are easy to work with. Ultra efficient houses that can change with our changing needs and are not rigid. I believe that if we address housing along with mobility then we can indirectly address many of the other areas mentioned above. I think expensive housing and mobility are significant issues that my community is facing. People in my community are completely relied on cars for everything they do. Work, university, groceries, healthcare and other important needs are not at walkable or biking distance. In my area, roads have sidewalks on both side that are not used as much and at the same time bike lanes are on the roads which make them unsafe. Major commercial areas are separated from residential areas, which creates a very high need for vehicles. Parking lot regulations for plazas have created huge underutilized parking lots for buildings that are just one storey high. Example, near new St. Catharines general hospital. Technologies such as urban rooftop agriculture and electricity generation can generated second income from these underutilized properties. Transportation technologies such as smart public transport combined with bike sharing programs and incentives for using it can help car dependent communities like mine to be less dependent on it. However, I think technology alone cannot help communities, out of the box thinking when updating policies and regulations is more important. Niagara FallsL2E1I didn't - transparency, accountably and open decision making weren't included. Post every dollar spent and create a lobby Registrar St. CatharinesL2T51243 Niagara FallsL2H54132We must innovate in terms of health and wellness or we are likely headed for a catastrophic failure of our health care system in Niagara. St. CatharinesL2M21453I do not want to see st catharines become another Toronto or Hamilton as more and more people gravitate here because of the cheaper housing than the larger cities near here- crime, poverty, drugs, etc of course the huge drug problem is making its way here St. CatharinesL2N45132We need to get the social issues that are plagueing our communities under control with action plans and tangible outcomes - this is foundational to progress. Need to get the cities to give space and buildings for free to help homeless, Addictions , mental health , housing , etc ... this is having a huge impact on our communities - followed by once you address that issue - we need jobs for people or this just becomes cyclical - Followed by transportation to help families get to health services and jobs also critical infrastructure support lastly I picked Health and wellness because get the first 4 right it will lead to be health and not just physical - mental and social health ! Which then has a ripple of the community healthy and well and able to contribute positively. Leadership - resistance to change and not driving actions. Accountability and deliverables to the public . A lot of talk but no action. I encourage you to think about planning and integrating services to help serve the community . It's not about technology it's about getting more boots on the ground and serve ! It's a bout being nimble and able to act . Take care of root cause issues instead of piece meal - don't boil the ocean but start making neighbourhood level changes . Challenge yourselves to get outside the box . Let go egos and need for credit and work together to make change. It's time. No more territorial and turfing . Address the issues face on and get to actions . No more consults , reports , 3rd party opinions , expert advice , meetings meetings meetings what are you going to do by when and how . Be creative look at Toronto and the new building the annex housing 90 beds with one stop shop for harm reduction, safe injection , mental health workers, Peer support all co locating Review your programs and services do they align ? Where are there inefficiencies and lack of value for dollar - integrate them to build capacity How many staff do you have in the region ? Why are they not our doing work on the ground get services closer to the Front lines. Enough planning - Who shares "like " mandates - Combine efforts Take a hard look at spending can money that is being spent on high salaries be repurposed to meet your priorities ? There is no need for new money and I would wager a bet that if you really want to make a difference on those issues - you need to look at your resources . You have capacity just all in silos . 1. Review of current costs and salaries - you'll find savings - reallocate to these initiatives 2. Duplication look not just internally but externally who needs to own what - what is core and the must dos vs nice to do - use those dollars to work on homeless and social health 3. Get more outreach - mobile services - a community response team from departments and external partners and tackle the issues collectively 4. Hire strong leaders who are not afraid to make change 4. Work with non traditional partners who share the same goals and get showing actions Ie/ hospitals , churches , CCAC, primary care , public and their families , corporate and private sector . 6. If you don't know Find someone who does and make a strong diverse dream team to achieve the goals Empty store fronts Buildings vacant How can the city offer up space to have homeless and housing in place -and bring services to them Get people healthy mentally and physically so they can apply for jobs Work with Brock and Niagara College recruit students - create jobs that are relevant to the needs here -attract physicians , Help partners who are hiring the same roles ie PSW - but little agencies Can't compete with region salaries / could there be a central intake and recruitment that's shared among all ? A pool of resources ? What can be coat shared. How can the region offer admin support , HR, accounting to our small businesses who have no $$$$ no staff private or non profit and are sinking .., meanwhile region departments are over the top rich in these roles - outsource to help Our businesses and partners so they can ask for more FTE in grants and proposals but yet are stuck in the key areas the back end of businesses - how can the region support ? So admin heavy - think differently we are all one team and that extends into the public we all own this together not in single business or sector " owns " these issues Break down the silos Work across sectors Pilot and try new ways The big thing to change is how people behave and how we think about these priorities - change the culture. That's the first step . Think about ways to co-design projects outside of the region - with community partners Get your people out and working ... no more sitting at desks in office Niagara shuttle buses instead of big buses - to get people what they need at municipal levels Engage with trades and other businesses that need to hire and build a transition plan from someone on ODSP or SAEO office and connect it all for people Look at hamilton how the ammalgamated public health and social services Whose doing really well in Ontario Why ? Learn ? Wait lists for housing are awful what about Talking to those who have a lot of space on site to their buildings what can be leveraged ? Long term care campus Style could bring an op For housing Look at Europe those who do the recycling pick up in communities are homeless - People feel Hope and a connection No one size fits all fits no one Get out to the east side village of Port Colborne have you ever heard from your people living there ? Go chat with those in gale crescent st Catharines and have you ever had a forum talking to teachers and principals of schools and what they see feel and hear given the closest to children ? Need to get out and do true community engagement and that means hearing from non mainstream and have Niagara community sit at planning tables as Advisory and not your high SES !!! Your EMS has the best tech and forward thinking to change Niagara - go talk with their leaders .. Imagine what we can do when we care and act - together !! St. CatharinesL2N54132It's costing the most to all sectors ED visits , ambulance , Police , social services , Bring services to shelters and think about buildings that could be offered for space that you already pay for Old police station on James and church can if he used for harm reduction and hostel and services co Locate ?Everyone collects data from so many Sources - have one constortium where hospitals , Public health , police , your departments can dump data and info to help with planning and work but in a comprehensive way - then have an app to be able to click on a city and all issues data , trends , needs pop up - and then have access to services app that parters submit what they can do to help Food grocery insta cart that just arrived - what does ordering a service or help look on an app WainfleetL0S52341I choose Work and Employment as #1 because if there are good quality, rewarding jobs in the Niagara Region, people will be able to build connectivity in their communities and will want to stay. A significant issue in my Wainfleet community is lack of jobs in the city. I understand not everyone can work close to home, but if there was technology that allowed more business people to work from home in the rural community of Wainfleet - it would help increase businesses ventures and the opportunity for more people to be able to work from home for businesses that allow that. The lack of internet capabilities and internet connectivity strength is poor in the Wainfleet area. WainfleetL0S52341I choose Work and Employment as #1 because if there are good quality, rewarding jobs in the Niagara Region, people will be able to build connectivity in their communities and will want to stay. A significant issue in my Wainfleet community is lack of jobs in the city. I understand not everyone can work close to home, but if there was technology that allowed more business people to work from home in the rural community of Wainfleet - it would help increase businesses ventures and the opportunity for more people to be able to work from home for businesses that allow that. The lack of internet capabilities and internet connectivity strength is poor in the Wainfleet area. St. CatharinesL2S35214Position people to travel to Niagara Region and to travel out for employment opportunities Niagara FallsL2G25314The Cancer rate is too high in this area & it would be good to know if it is caused by Water, Air, food, previous industry pollution, wireless RF & microwave towers or proximity to overhead Hydro lines. There are always line ups in every walk in clinic and the Emergency room is always full until after 2 amCongested main roads, make Dorchester road & Montrose road 4 lanes from Thorold stone to McLeod so we have better access between north & south end of town when there is construction going on or an issue on the QEW. Left hand turns on these roads hold up a lot of traffic at some streets it is very frustrating on the weekends when the 40 Km/hr drivers are out on the roads and anytime near 5:00 pm ThoroldL2V13425You can have all others and if not connected it is known to no oneTransportation to and from work for most of the people and the information that what is available easily to those people. St. CatharinesL2R52134Economic prosperity influences many of the other areas such as job creation, opportunities for new graduates/immigrants. It also feeds into environmental protection, learning (grants etc) and lessens crime rates.Technology if available to everyone would allow those in low income/subsidized needs greater advantage at finding support networks and jobs. Computers at libraries are one such example that exits. Networking locations were people could freely use computers to get connected and community/government information be made available would help get people involved in their own development. ThoroldL2V25341Employment lacking in the Region, Issue = Transportation to support employment/child care/education Technology to support efficient transpo regionwide WellandL3B24135 St. CatharinesL2T21 St. CatharinesL2R51243I think that the environment is too often sacrificed for the benefit of economic growth. GrimsbyL3M3412Can't have any of the other options if you aren't healthyNew hospital in Grimsby is needed. PelhamL0S12345We need an economy where people have opportunities to find meaningful employment where they can invest in the community. Lack of funds in our society contributes to lower personal health and increased social barriers. Budget. The Town of Pelham's debt load and budget needs additional revenue sources beyond the residential tax base. We need businesses to invest and provide innovative industries to meet the future needs of the Region and provide opportunities for employment. Other, please specifyOttawaK1L13245Connectivity is the foundation to building a smart city. Heck, any community at all. Enhanced community engagement and better conversations for peer to peer problem solving. Technology (and AI) can play a huge part in this with the use of technology in fostering connectivity and creating change. St. CatharinesL2S21354Economic prosperity will help achieve many of the other outcomesThe world is moving towards AI and Machine learning - we need to be aggressive in this area in order to survive as a region and to grow St. CatharinesL2R54312Better transportation and mobility within and without the region will help to promote all other areas of interest. Our biggest issue is the unemployment rate. Bringing in smart technology will increase the need for trained graduates providing higher paying jobs and keeping more revenue in this region. St. CatharinesL2S41253St. Catharines has lost a tremendous amount of economic prosperity over the past 10 years. Economic prosperity will enhance services to the community.Multiple levels of government which are too costly. St. CatharinesL2R52341I don't feel the Region is easy to get around in if you don't have a vehicle. Our residents need things to be accessible in order to take part (online involvement aside). St. CatharinesL2R52134Niagara has the assets to educate local students for local opportunities. It's not enough to catch up to other regions and municipalities. We need to leap frog. We need to be leaders instead of followers. Take chances. Niagara students by and large are not engaged in their communities. Ask a grade 12 student to name the municipalities that make up their back yard and they can't. This is an issue. Lack of geo-literacy is an issue. If they do not know where they live and learn all that Niagara has to offer, why would they stay. Geospatial technologies and information play a role in a vast number of economic sectors and the skills developed can be transferred across sectors. Niagara has the assets to educate in this field and retain the students exiting the programs. Geospatial technologies and information feed evidence based decision making. Niagara FallsL2H52341 Port ColborneL0S54132The Niagara Region is home to numerous unique and significant environmental features and natural areas. With the large amount of development that is occurring in the GTA and surrounding areas Niagara is poised for an opportunity to develop SMART. Rather than continuing developmental practices like other areas that focus on suburban and townhouse developments with little emphasis placed on green space, the Niagara Region can make green spaces a focus in its development in order to produce communities that are not only functional but also desirable places to live, work and play.Employment is probably the largest issue facing my community and all communities within Niagara. Better access to faster internet connections is one means through which technology can be used as part of the solution. In addition, incentives can be provided for businesses that aim to bring new and cutting edge technology to the Niagara Region. The introduction of new technologies can inspire others to do likewise and inspire employees to develop new technologies of their own. St. CatharinesL2T14253I keep hearing about the NRP not being honest and not investigating crimes as diligently as they could. And IF that's true, crime will become rampant. Then no one will want to move to, live in, start businesses or find entertainment in a city/region that isn't safe and where the police reputation is poor.Overpopulation of college/university students in one area and little recourse towards landlords, when the students cause problems in the neighbourhood. Absentee landlords should have to pay into a fund for their neighbourhood's upkeep or something. Maybe surveillance cameras at intersections? WellandL3C53241Very difficult to get involved and show support for the community if you can't get a jobTerrible Health Care System. Huge wait times and not enough health care providers Niagara FallsL2J21543Without your health there is little reason to pursue other goals.A consolidated medical history database shared amongst Niagara Region healthcare facilities would be a start. Using technology to raise awareness and to make services and information easier for people to access is another never ending goal that can always be improved. Giving residents a one stop shop for requesting government services regardless of who provides the service (ie. local municipality or Region). St. CatharinesL2N321 St. CatharinesL2M54321Better jobs for our Communities will increase the other areas WellandL3B54123Economic Prosperity benefits all in the community WellandL0S42351People need jobs to finance the municipal corporation.The cost of development is being loaded on to the back of taxpayers and our tax bills are soaring. WellandL3C14532As in any municipality - people want to feel safe and be able to go about their business without fear of being attacked by some destitute person or crack-head in any area of their municipality whether it be in a shopping mall parking lot or coming out of a bank or restaurant. More and more, I see bizarre behaviour of people that seem to be portraying characteristics of mentally illness, wondering the streets downtown, in any type of residential areas, at the Mall, etc. They have been threating to those passing by them on the sidewalk or if you're in your vehicle at a traffic light and cant' move, and this unacceptable behaviour is going on right at your vehicle window with no place to maneuver to - people with children in their vehicles or an elderly person driving by themselves.... it's very frightening... I see this all the time - I know I feel very unsafe. Please get these people help and off the streets. St. CatharinesL2S54132I feel if people have a place to stay it will lead to them getting jobs being part of the community. Transportation will get them to their jobs and places they live in. The city is aging. we need use new technology to improve the infrastructure. Need to clean up areas in the city. By-Laws need to be enforced on home owners and Landlords to look after their properties. Why does the city look after parts of the city and not others? ThoroldL7K51432High Speed connectivity for everyone is important in today's connected world and that in itself allows people to collaborate and resolve issues.Reduce connectivity costs in the rural areas. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S5241Transportation and mobility is important factor to consider in a community. Easy access to amenities. Living in a rural area it is not as easy to get around without having a car. There are also townships within NOTL without proper sidewalks. Having more sidewalks would encourage those who reside within those townships to get out an exercise, enjoy the surroundings without fear of the busy roads. Most importantly safety for children playing or walking to and from school.Better network access for cell phones and internet. There are a lot of spots within the community with very weak or no signal for these amenities. St. CatharinesL2N45231We're a 3rd world country for frig sake. We need jobs. Good jobs.Homeless ap. Report a location so they can be offered shelter, care or medical attention. St. CatharinesL2R52314 Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S43521Too many crop areas, forests, and vacant properties are becoming subdivisions. Especially in NOTL. It's taking away from the beauty of the land and the animals that inhabit it.NOTL is becoming a huge tourist area. For some this is a good thing, and for others (locals that have been here more than 15 years) that may be an undesired thing. If you see that as a good thing, a town with free wireless internet would be another draw. For me, it would remove from the heritage value of the area. I'm in my 20's so that you get perspective on my disinterest of technology in this town specifically. In cities, I think broad wireless internet would be a great thing, but not for the town of NOTL. St. CatharinesL2S15423People's engagement in their community and being connected to other people is fundamental to their well-being. Our municipal governments (region and lower-tier levels) and large institutions (hospital, university) have no choice but to come to the realisation that old-fashioned power structures are outmoded, inefficient and don't fit today's horizontally-connected world. People working in government and government-funded systems who have the old-fashioned, paternalistic belief that their role is to "command and control" resources that belong to the citizenry and that "they know best" are not in touch with where the world is heading. People who see where the world is heading see that governments' and institutions' role is NOT to try to "be all things to all people" and compete to control resources; rather it is one of humbly and efficiently leading from behind and working in a spirit of cooperation so that everyone in our communities can get ahead. This shift is inevitable, because systems of government and large institutions established hundreds of years ago by 'the old boys' network' simply are not nimble, efficient or flat enough to keep up with the pace of change happening 'on the ground' in our digitally-connected communities. GrimsbyL3M45231There's a major problem in Niagara with employment, and we could do a better job of attracting big companies, particularly in tech, to the region. Anyone wanting to work in this field has to commute outside of the region, for decent pay. It feels like Niagara is becoming more of a retirement village. Traffic, and too many homes being crammed into small areas. Grimsby is a small town with a hugely expanding population, and the town and infrastructure have not grown to accommodate that, or put a stop to these super tight development projects. People have to park on the streets in a lot of neighbourhoods as planning was poor, and homes were built with single car driveways. Congestion in downtown due to the population explosion. I'm not sure how technology can help, better city planning/urban design would. St. CatharinesL2S21543Without a proactive strategy to live sustainably in our environment we will not be able to do anything else.High cost of housing matched with easy of access to tranist. New building technologies that make it cheaper to build housing as well as smarter neighbourhood development and transit planning can help. WellandL3B21354Ubiquitous Connectivity and real-time information to Residents and Visitors through Smart Street Lamp Post: Provides broadband connectivity in every part and provide right knowledge for all Real-time data about weather, people movement, public safety and cultural eventsLamp post in downtown, intersection and at other collaborative places equipped with Centrally Managed System that provide right lighting and real-time information about weather, air quality, people movement, noise level, snow / water on roadway and walkway. System generates the real-time data that can be use to manage the all outdoor assets. Example - lighting that alerts when malfunctioning and have self-recovery option, Detecting thickness of water or Snow to ensure right services activated when and where needed, measures the roadway condition to predict when and where salt services are required, pole nicely integrated with small cell broadband technology that provides ubiquitous connectivity to residents and visitors. Wi-Fi kiosk in open collaborative space that provide access to digital information to all ages, ethnicity and gender. Several of the initiatives will addresses digital divide challenge including Indigenous peoples, immigrant and refugees live in urban areas. Adapt easy to use plug-n-play ITS, IoT and lighting technology in intersection that collects the data about where people spend more time and provide them safety during peak hours that addresses pedestrian safety and crowd management challenge. Connected system to convert footfall into sales for small businesses while providing new insight into consumer behavior in major shopping area. By connecting places with people, it collects real-time data. It provides city more insight into usage of public places and infrastructure, people's travel pattern, pedestrian safety quality of life, environment. The Human-centric technology addresses the citizen concern about right level of municipal services (snow, water, salt, roadway lighting, EMS, etc.), eliminate administrative task, saves citizen's time and provide real-time feedback to city officials. Most important the historical data provides more insight and provide future prediction that can address climate challenges. It Empowers residents with right knowledge, addresses the digital divide and improves socio-economic, health and environmental conditions. PelhamL3C15342Create a unique identity of Niagara region by revitalizing major landmark and iconic monuments using connected technology (architectural lighting, musical fountain, digital arts). Transform key monuments and landmarks across major town into new digitally connected neighborhood that provides unique experiences to visitors and local residents. Each monument connects people, resources and history through arts and specific services offered to residents and visitors. Celebrate the win or goals of local sports team, notify people about extreme weather by offering color-coded outdoor illuminating system. Most important transform core district into best place to do business and stimulate local economy with more service-oriented businesses. Example Old Town San Diego Park attracts tourist while improving quality of life of residents. Montreal illuminating most downtown historical building and monuments, uses laser projection around the main streets, transformed Jacques Cartier bridge and old Montreal into destination place for young and old generation during day or night. Such beautifully illuminated skyline in the night, connects with young talents and transformed into #AI, #VR, #Gaming capital of Canada. The public place across the under region or town to become beacon for resident to know what's happening in the town and invites them to come out more often to celebrate the local events. It invites new corporations to invest in our local economy. Promote unique connectivity with our neighbours. It creates branding worldwide, attracts new investment and address job creation for young and old demographic. Overall such project result in economic development and enhances community pride. Such an approach empowers residents to be Region of Niagara's eyes and ears, engaging them in the process of maintaining their city neighborhoods. Niagara FallsL2G34215I feel that if people is healthy (mentally, physically, emotionally and on other aspects) they can give the best of them selves. They will be willing to go the extra mile for their community. We will save so much money on health care if we start preventing illnesses and barriers. For example, healthy snack and more physical activities for kids and teenagers will prevent them from gaining weight and developing overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. To create programs for all kids no matter their income status. All YMCA to be free for children 18 and under, etc. Sometimes it seems that middle class kids don't get the benefits of lower class with jump start and pro kids programs, and well people with better incomes they may be able to afford more activates. However, middle class families struggle to put their kids into programs and the YMCA at the same time. Another example will be more volunteer programs for the elderly, it will keep them busy and active instead of aging and becoming depress because they feel useless. They can volunteer pretty much in all agencies. From the mailroom, to other aspects depending on their abilities and experience. To me mental health its very important. If you feel good about your self then you feel that you can help your community, when you improve yourself at the end of the day it will help your community, etc. We need kids to get classes about self esteem, we need to stop media with so much stereotyping and have true parenting classes for kids in college and university so they can raise kids with more sense of community and love. More places where kids can go and interact using computers and programs that help then learn. Like a robotic program that is free and kids can go in an learn something new, and at the same time interact with other kids in their community to hear and learn about the struggles other have. Maybe a online service where people can chat about their struggles and just have someone to talk about. Almost as the suicide prevention line, but in a chat either via text or on a computer. maybe even an app. It will be nice also to have an app that helps you connect with all agencies, and helps you find programs in the community. Maybe it will ell you where you can volunteer and you get a record of all the volunteer programs you have completed and the programs you have enrolled and completed. then people can be recognized for their support in the community. the app will give us so much data of what people is looking for and what they need the most. Plus all the volunteer hours and places. Another cool thing it will be to see agencies connecting to provide a better service for the clients. For example, if Ontario Works has access to EI then we will stop asking clients to provide Record of employment and other documents. everything will be in the system, the same with Revenue Canada. It will prevent a lot of fraud between federal and provincial agencies. Plus it will help shorten the times for clients to get services. They wouldn't have to go to different agencies to provide the same documents. Of course, I understand that there are things that have to be confidential and only for the agencies purposes, however, there is a lot of information that can be shared and will not affect the client ThoroldL2V34512Work to develop Niagara into a 'smart city/community' is futile if future generations do not have the skills or understanding to assume future leadership of it.It is apparent all smart city efforts may be for not if we as a community do not address key indicators such as slipping EDI scores, weak standardized testing outcomes and the growing educational equality gap which is occurring across all of Niagara. Addressing these issues is a necessity if we are to prepare the next generation to assume leadership of a 'Smart' community. Those issues cannot be addressed alone by the local educational institutions and ministries, the community must also play its part. Technology can be leveraged to ensure that every child and adult across Niagara has access to the same educational supports and services. This can mean the equitable distribution of connectivity and connective devices; development of curriculum which leverages connectivity and tech.; development of technology that allows for affordable access to life's necessities such as food, water and shelter; and tech that enables participation within the community, be it traditional (transit, groups, events, etc.) or innovative (digital communities, remote access, open governance) methods. It is becoming evident that the challenges of raising a child can no longer be met by a village alone, but in the near future will take a 'smart city'. Niagara FallsL2H13245Once you have connectivity, the rest will follow.Rural areas without high speed connectivity and the cost to have decent speeds for internet. St. CatharinesL2S41523It is absolutely necessary to have connectivity to enable almost everything else to work. PelhamL0S45321 Port ColborneL3K53421lots of young people, not a lot of work Other, please specifyLeipzig, Brandenburg, Deutschland21345optionaloptional ThoroldL2V4231Transportation is an economic and quality of life driver. information and awareness - technology can be used to ensure that people can find what they want, when they want, easily. WellandL3C15432 WellandL3B12345 Niagara FallsL2E1Volume of visitors and neglect of the downtown core (business wise.) PelhamL0S54321TRansportation - essential for our youth for education and employmentInformation Port ColborneL3K45321We have lots of jobs without people, but also people without jobs. Smart City technology can have big impact on this St. CatharinesL2N54123The enviroment is the most important, pollution, air we breathe, keeping our most important asset water safe for the public.The city must stop wasting the tax payers money, too many studies on projects that actually never happen, also when we give permission to build maybe parking should be number one, how the traffic impacts the locals, maybe stop thinking about the tax gains and think about its consequences first. Think before you say yes Counsel, were are tired of it. WellandL3B3214Education ThoroldL2V45132I feel that the Region has so much too offer. Economic growth will have a trickle down to community pride, reinforce the need for better transportation and create innovative, meaningful employment opportunities for youth and new residents. Amalgamated Transit needs to happen very soon. St. CatharinesL2M3421without health and wellness, the others cannot be accomplished St. CatharinesL2N35142Everything else on the list is attainable once there is economic prosperity.Transportation. WellandL3C23145I am appalled at the development of our greenspaces over the last several years. So much good farmland, and woodlands being paved over and cookie cutter houses going up. We have a unique microclimate and ecosystem in Niagara, let's not let any more of it disappear! I would also like to see Niagara reintroduce LRTs or other railway forms of interurban transit. There is already a railway line down the middle of the peninsula, running north-south. There are also some of the old interurban corridors still not built on available. I absolutely refuse to use buses, but I would definitely use the train. Trains are more efficient, and easier on the environment.Welland faces major problems with old brownfield industrial sites. Technology needs to be brought in to turn those sites back into arable land, or use those sites for new development. To me, the brownfield sites are a perfect opportunity to produce more of our own food using greenhouses. Why not utiliize technology to build multi-storey greenhouses that are completely self-contained and "off the grid"? Technology makes it possible to draw on geothermal energy for heat, and put up small turbines for hydro generation to run smart LED lighting systems and irrigation pumps. Reflective panels and mirrors could also be used during the day to get sunlight into the lower floors of the greenhouses. Building the greenhouses with multiple stories, and changeable floor levels could also make it possible to use them for fruit trees. Using sensors, and computers, the temperature, humidity, irrigation and light levels could be kept at optimal conditions all the time for whatever fruits or vegetables are in the system. Technology would likewise make it possible to have a wide variety of plants in a single greenhouse, adjusting climate controls in various "blocks." Many pharmaceutical drugs also start with plant-based products, and again, the smart greenhouses would optimize production of those plants, and perhaps, draw those pharmaceutical manufacturers to Niagara as well. Niagara is already known for its greenhouse industry, and this would just be the next step. This would provide employment as well, and utilize the education and skills already in Niagara with the School of Horticulture, the Vineland research centre, and Niagara College and Brock. Niagara-Welland could become a new centre for growing fruits and vegetables locally, of all kinds! Other, please specifyL2S53124I am very passionate about mental health issues as I struggled for most of my life with depression. Many people I know are struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and have little hope for the future. So many lives are being destroyed because of lack of support and this is wrong. People need easy access to places where they can go daily to get help and support. We need more trained counselors and group support so people aren't waiting months to get into a program. My daughter has a local cleaning company and many of our clients are seniors who are depressed and lonely. She also does hoarding cleanups for the region and we can de-clutter their homes but they need someone to help de-clutter their minds so they can move ahead in life. Mental health should be a huge priority as it is taking the lives of people who should be actively involved in our community. Children, teens, adults and seniors are struggling needlessly and turning to drugs, alcohol and other forms of self-medication to cope. Nobody should ever feel like they need to end their life because they have no hope when communities should be providing the hope and help they need.Technology could help bring support daily to people who are struggling with mental health issues. There could be blogs, advertising, on-line courses, ideas, groups, etc. St. CatharinesL2M312Economic prosperity is important for everyone regardless of income or stage in life. If the region is not economically prosperous, it is a dying region and NO ONE wants to live in a dying region. A high percentage of retirees live in the region. And a high percentage of young people are leaving the region. We need to match the two together to keep the young people here and enrich the lives of the retirees. I have a program in the works to do just that. WellandL3C42351The Niagara Region needs to provide activity spaces for its population. ALL sports, including water sports need to be accommodated and promoted. Spaces and laneways for walkers, bikers, and other wheeled users need to be updated and expanded. Recreational activity is vital to the physical and mental health of everyone. These activities should not be pressured to be profit driven.I read recently that China will no longer accept foreign recyclable waste. This is a serious concern for most waste management systems. I am aware of an organization called Plastic to Oil that has a process that converts waste plastics into a variety of fuels. The region should look into the viability of a system/company like this to help eliminate waste and convert it into something that could fuel vehicles or be sold to other industries for money. Niagara FallsL2G32541People need good paying and secure jobs. The majority of jobs around here are part-time, no benefits and are minimum wage. They have to have more then one job to survive. Not sure if technology is the answer. PelhamL0S21345"Natural Areas - Ontario.ca www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=10865 UNESCO - In 1990, the Niagara Escarpment was named an UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Escarpment is one of only 16 biosphere reserves in Canada, and is part of a network of 631 reserves in 119 countries. Natural Heritage System Coverage by Plan. Greenbelt Plan (GBP). Protected Countryside." Our little town of FENWICK had a $$ investment for improved street appearance in 2013. Since then we have lost our Bakery, Hardware store and now the Bank is planning to close on the main street. New home builds are encroaching and our quaint town is dying. Niagara FallsL2G3421Because sadly, Niagara Falls (and Niagara region) really offer no jobs. I grew up here, but left to go to university, and lived in Toronto over 20 years (as no work in anything here). I moved back recently, due to family, and I was lucky to find a job within my field, but my husband, despite being educated and experienced, has found a string of seasonal, minimum wage work. Knowing we are both educated, this is a scary thought...educated and young people are leaving due to lack of opportunity, and all that is left is insecure, underpaid work at best. I have children here...I am terrified for them. Growing up here, it seems people have no aspirations, no hope, as there is nothing for them unless they leave. I don't want for my girls - I don't want that for anyone. This area needs to figure out ways to attract employers that AREN'T related to seasonal tourism,Public transportation - technology can help the region figure out how much damn money they re losing by running all these separate bus lines, and how amalgamating, would provide better service to everyone - better routes, more frequent routes, sunday and late night service, and more economical service. Think metrolinx WellandL3C4132You need a good education to get anywhere now a days or you won't make it anywhere in the world... Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S41352It drives everything else. Port ColborneL3K1245Don't let technology pass us by...it's going to happen with or without us.Allow the residents the option of going paperless re: the city water bill. St. CatharinesL2N3412I chose Recreation and Sports because St.Catharines specifically since 2004-2005 I've noticed that the City was being transformed to a retirement home. Movies at the Fairview taken out, Port Dalhousie Bars torn down for an apartment building that has never been built. Adding areas where there is recreation and sport for our citizens to get involved and interact might bring some life into the city again.A significant issue my community is facing is municipality spending. They can't seem to stay within budget like a bridge they made was twice the amount in cost. Technology could help them estimate cost a lot more accurately. St. CatharinesL2W52143Because without safe and affordable housing, you cannot be secure and successful.Policing crimes like vandalism and drug trafficking perhaps with cameras or sensors. WellandL3B41235Work and Employment generate the drive and resources needed to implement important changes to our economy, infrastructure and policies.Technology is not the only solution to issues in a community. Actually, technology and its misapplication can cause other problems such as the poor lighting created by the change to LED street lamps. Drivers use high beams in the city, blinding cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles. The perception of darker streets keep people indoors creating more crime and decreasing social interaction. Antiquated and uninformed decision and policy makers need to be technically savvy before attempting to jump on technological bandwagons. Niagara FallsL2G43125 Housing and shelter are too expensive and the cost should be regulated and lowered so younger people can actually have the dream of owning a home. It is un-achievable right now. Contaminated industrial properties, clean up sites then re-use them. St. CatharinesL2R35142Enviroment because we are blessed to live in this amazing region and I think we should be doing more to preserve itI think we as a region should go for Dark Sky designation. It would replace all outdoor lighting, there are government grants to assist with the cost and then people could truly enjoy the region as it was meant to be seen. It would also save our cities and citizens hundreds maybe even thousands in electricity costs. If Bon Accord can do it, so can we and I would love to be a part of it. Here's the link.... http://www.darksky.org/alberta-town-named-first-international-dark-sky-community-in-canada/ Niagara FallsL2H23415Sustainable and affordable housing is lacking throughout the Niagara Region; not just Niagara Falls where I live. Shelter beds do not meet the demand at this point.Housing / Homelessness Using a system where all shelters and / or community services are connected would be helpful in terms of tracking progress and areas of need. This is also allow us as community organizations to work closer together to meet the needs of our marginalized populations WellandL3C213I'm on odsp trying to find work. I'm having a hard time with my high rent. If I had afordable housing I feel I could put more money back Into our community . More jobs would be neededI think better tracking of low income families and and the cost of rent and how it impackes society as a whole would be a beneficial way of building a bridge to help the gaps . St. CatharinesL2M53142We have to keep ahead of the aging population and make sure that we can help people keep as healthy as they can and when they need care that there are plenty of options for everyone to get what they need quickly. I dealt with many facilities as my parents aged and I myself am disabled and know I will need extra help as my illness progresses. Health should be everyone's priority.Again an aging population is a significant issue in our community. Technology could be a huge part of the solution by linking all information for health, wellness, accommodations in one place. Being able to type in-Multiple Sclerosis- and having everything that is available for persons needing info on it, show up on screen. The same for any issue. An unlikely example is what happened when my father died. I had to contact the provincial government. The federal government. Regional government. His former work place and such, sending each a death certificate. Being on the phone with various people at each location to give all of them the same basic info. Why can there not be one place where you give all the info and it is sent where it is needed? Internet connects everything. Share the info and it would cost less because you could have one job the puts there info everywhere. Could be the same for anything. MS. Boom. Info is loaded and the answers show you what you need. Port ColborneL3K32145Because there are many people needing affordable housing in Port Colborne. Niagara FallsL2H32415Because a community can only develop so far as its economic output allows it to.Growing petty crime and drug use, technology could help us locate crimes and illicit activities to apprehend and deter crime. WellandL3B52134I feel that there is a huge gap with shelters in the region being accessible for homeless people and transitioning them into affordable housing. There is a large homeless population and not enough shelters.A huge issue is substance use. Technology could help address this solution by connecting people to resources as the community is lacking in supports to address this issue. Technology could also help spread awareness about this issue. LincolnL0R14532We are sending too many things to the landfills and need to get more citizens on board with composting and recycling. The Region supplies the great resources for this yet people still have more garbage than recycling. We need to start new initiatives like banning disposable cutlery at public events, banning plastic bags, getting coffee places to use recyclable or compostable cups.Bring back deposits on containers and have vending machines for getting refunds. Put them in busy locations and have portable ones at local event. WellandL3B53421Because there is nothing recreational to do in welland that doesn't involve money. Merritt Island is my main point. All of those broken down workout areas, could be refurbished into an amazing outdoor workout facility. Giving the youth and adults a place to workout, and helping the obesity that this town faces.We don't need more technology crap, we need thinkers and doers. Too many people here have everything given to them, and it just creates stagnation and zombie like people who sit on their phones all day long. St. CatharinesL2R25143City needs to broaden its scope or recreational opportunities available. Particularity fringe and seasonal sports. Ie... Create a BMX/PUMP TRACK under the garden City bridge, then in winter create a long skating trail. WellandL3C1My idea ..take one of the old Casinos and turn it into a Sience Center.. the best ever. Kinda like Sience North in Sudbury.. the benifits to Niagara would be fantastic..and there is nothing like it in the area.. See above.. St. CatharinesL2N1532As technology grows/evolves and more efficient but invasion technologies become part of people's lives, crime, safety, and security need to evolve as well, but seem to do so at a slight lag. This presents an opportunity to provide for a need that has been overlooked for, in most cases, convenience.Unemployment in the Niagara Region is very low, especially next to a thriving Toronto economy. Finding ways to bring permanent residents down to this area to work in local/regional industries is key - many young people leave the Niagara area seeking better and more available employment. Technology can act as the door into new markets that are currently non-existent or in the infantile stage, which allows for new start ups to grow at exponential speeds and to employ many within a short period of time. Other, please specifyCrystal BeachL0S5Beach draws fantastic summer crowds....capitalizing on this influx would benefit EVERYONE. Clean the beach daily. Have garbage cans handy. Lifeguard. Parking. Cut a break to vendors (Restaurants included.) Competitions (Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fun sport...). Water sport rentals (paddleboats, rowboats....). AND MAKE THE FLIPPIN' BEACH PUBLIC!!! It's a disgrace to swim out from shore and look back to the shore to see a couple hundred metres of sand over-packed with beach-goers, and the rest of the hundreds and hundreds of metres pretty much empty. Where is the leadership?! Where are the visionaries who are strong enough to stand up and avow: This is Canada. The shorelines belong to all of us! St. CatharinesL2T24351connected mass transit that include trails/bathrooms for walking/biking and easy access to all municipalities/bus in the Region and the Go access to other cities is vital. It will help the environment with less emissions, allow access to culture/arts/festivals avoid driving and parking, and promote health through walking/biking. BUT, bathrooms are vital for this.Busing/public transport. A 'book for use' system might be more useful. If the transportation system knows when they are needed, then they can run specifically. My mom is 87 using the system, she needs easier access. I want to use it for festivals and events. leave the car at home. ThoroldL2V51324Because we need to help entrepreneurs and small business to continue running their business smoothly as well as help them improve.Employment and daycare for low income families as well as activities for children and youth so they become better leaders in the future. ThoroldL2V13425The youth in the Niagara Region need more employment opportunities. They need to become motivated to enter into the work force by new methods of engagement. Such as hands on learning ie: carpentry, building techniques, motor and media. ex: Building tiny houses and having the community support them in this endeavour. Solar energy etc.Unemployment. Understanding that the youth have social media as their way to communicate but for the community to re-energize them by engaging them with focus groups and one on one communication. Utilizing the communities secondary schools at night to teach and demonstrate. Online learning etc. LincolnL0R53241 Niagara FallsL2G5321"Copenhagen is truly a green city surrounded by water and parks, with climate-friendly citizens to match. Copenhageners excel in combining sustainable solutions with growth and a high quality of life. In fact, Copenhagen was European Green Capital 2014. The ambitious green profile of the city has a clear goal: The City of Copenhagen aims to become the world's first CO2 neutral capital by 2025. Experience it for yourself. Swim in the clean waters of the city's harbour baths, stay in a sustainable hotel, eat organic, and ride the electric city bikes around the old maritime city. Danes are often said to be the happiest people in the world, and Copenhagen the world's most liveable city. Some of the reasons are the large number of green oases and open spaces with fresh air, some of the cleanest water in the world for drinking and swimming - as well as a city overflowing with bicycles, and a high availability and consumption of organic produce. Denmark is also one of the safest countries in the world, and has an excellent and efficient infrastructure."Besides local and regional government , a long term plan for sustainability for our future generation . Port ColborneL3K1despartly need something in this town for kids that is affordable no affordable housing affordable things for kids St. CatharinesL2R51243Although environment is a very broad category, I find that my beliefs, needs and want generally all fall under this umbrella. I live downtown St. Catharines. Two years ago before I bought my first house, I would have laughed if someone told me this is where I would end up calling home. Unfortunately, for the type of house I was looking for, and the price I was able to pay, I found myself downtown. Surprisingly, there are things I love with the downtown area - old houses, access to performing arts centre, Niagara Ice Dogs games, restaurant, the list goes on. That being said, there are certain deficiencies I have identified about living downtown that I feel could be corrected, therefore leading to more productivity. I see the focus the region is putting on the downtown area, and I am thrilled. I would love to provide some input from someone who lives downtown, and would like to see the community grow in a positive way. Environment is important for home owners looking to start a family, and stay in the area for long periods of time. If possible, I would love to discuss further - devinbrownn @ gmail.comScheduling - buses, snowplows, maintenance, etc. I have a solution to the "S'No parking" that could help make snow clean up more efficient and cost effective. I would love to share the idea in hopes to help the community save money, and be more efficient. WellandL3C43512Niagara's population is so disbursed, the only way to fer any coherent programming in such a region is to first have reliable, frequent, and meaningful public transportation therein.Transportation. Good data could help build a good transportation network in Niagara. St. CatharinesL2T34125Without your health you suffer, loose your independence and cannot support and take care of yourself or your family Affordable housing. Tiny home communities involving green and sustainable energy to assist homeless and low income families and individuals would provide a foundation for many in need. St. CatharinesL2S4213There's not alot of shelters available and the wait list for affordable housing 7 plus years so people have to live on their friends couches etc. Fort ErieL2A54132 Fort ErieL2A32451Our town has very limited options for people to work in other then minimum wage jobs. Unless you work for customs, teach or run a small business your options are limit in town and our children are moving out of the area making this a retirement town with limited health care options.Technology could bring jobs to the area. The land in this area is cheaper then most of the Niagara Region so that could attract businesses and may businesses can operate satellite offices and communiticate through the use of technology. As well we could advertise the value of our area through technology. St. CatharinesL2R42351 St. CatharinesL2N1There are too many people needing help with food and shelter, including the veterans and vulnerable including seniors, young families who can't afford housing and food and the sick. I have ideas but would like to have the $ to get it going. It would promote employment to get construction underway to build or retrofit a building to help. Then it would be to educate these people to integrate back into society. Some of them even have ideas to help back. Technology would help. My idea would be to try and work off grid. That would keep sustainable living costs to a minimum. There is technology already out there. We just have to bring it into the area. St. CatharinesL2P54312Throughout Niagara, Arts, Culture and Heritage are becoming an industry to attract others... either via tourism, or companies moving here because of what the community has to offer. It can have an even greater impact with heightened commitment and investment in its growth. St. CatharinesL2P2341When people are employed they pay taxes.this area lost alot of manufacturing jobs and therefor taxes are high...too high for a retirement areathe opiate cisis has done nothing to correct the problem.it`s too easy to get methodane.If you want methodone all you have to do is go to a clinic and tell them you have an addiction and ta dayou get more drugs.it`s a joke actually Niagara FallsL2J21543Beacause as a former tourist I've gotten lost, drove down the wrong street bam, there's a home that's boarded up another that's got garbage on its front yard business like hotels having garbage piled up on trucks over flowing garbage bins. Tourism is a key component in Niagara Falls livelyhood we should crunching down on litter even if it's not sending fines but lifting these beautiful home up and letting niagara shine again! Not only that might help with the rat problems we all have. Please consider a waste help I'm sad to see how much potential we have that's going to waste. Also why not a "you've been caught" sticker people getting caught recycling they then in turn get a small reward like tokens to the dt arcade, wine tasting , guided tours etc.. something to get our people attitudes to change and to be a active member of niagara enjoying their city again. Have a contest who's neighbourhood is cleanest most Improved. Bringing water parks with slides more entertainment to our core. Something fun electronic pads to tell tourists what they should try next.maybe promotional code they get after Purchasing something at a venue that would give them a percent off of another venue or ideas what to do next.Actually Lighting the huge Christmas lights up would be cool not to just have them at art, would be nice to see them light up while driving around the city. Would love to know more about what's going on too! Niagara FallsL2H35241 To build a fully functional, integrated public transit system would make a world of difference to those who are living in poverty, who have mental health issues and/or physical disabilities. This would give people more access to jobs and community resources region-wide, as well as allow people to connect with loved ones and be more involved in community activities on a more regular basis. In a region where the majority of the work available is in the service industry, why is it do we have a transit system that does not cater to the employees who work in this sector!? Common Sense should reign when it comes to making decisions concerning the public and job market. Unfortunately there is a large emphasis on car culture in our neck of the woods. Because of this we continuously degrade our local environments and compromise the beauty and connectivity of our communities. Already we have traffic problems in parts of the region that are akin to traffic problems in larger cities. Not to mention the runoff from our roads into a bio-diverse watershed is obscene. The public transit system should invite ridership so as to take the toxic pressure off of our biological heritage, what Niagara is known for. I believe the transportation system in the region has lost ridership because of the municipalities' and region's inability to design a system that can 'really' help those who need to get around. I've been a constant user of the public transit system for 8 years now. Currently I commute to work from Niagara falls to St. Catharines. I understand that the people who design the system are contracted from other places to do the work that the local knowledge should be paid to do. This is another folly of the region and it's municipalities. As Niagara municipalities continue to develop (unsustainable development that is), the traffic problem will become more pressing, and road maintenance will increase to astronomical costs. If the public transit system isn't upgraded to accommodate developing landscapes, then the transit problem will become more convoluted. Reactionary operations and planning is proof of failed system. Unsustainable development and No Economic diversity: Conventional forms of development are ruining the landscape and the biodiversity that our watershed gives life to. If you're going to allow the destruction of green space for temporary profit, at the very least enforce private companies to adopt sustainable building standards that apply permiculture principles to the design of the development; I.e. Rain gardens, earthships, Rooftop vegetation etc etc., and must have LEED certification to do the job right. Current building practices only focus on structure and quick profit, never taking into account the biological and social system at large. Also, how many more Tim Hortons', Wendys' and Dollar Stores do we need!? Very soon I'll be able to walk to three Tim Hortons locations comfortably from my home. However, there is no book store, no urban farm or farmers market, no place where community can call their own in my area (FYI, the YMCA is not a place for community building). The last thing Niagara Falls needs is another strip mall. Planners in this region haven't the slightest clue what community well-being looks like, and I think that should be a prerequisite in planner's world views going forward. Stop hiring folks who are not progressive and, quite frankly, too incompetent and lazy to do the job. Stop giving lots up to folks who don't care about the long-term prosperity of Niagara Falls, otherwise Niagara Falls will continue to be known as the city run by crooks, and face inevitable economic decline because of the complete lack of economic diversity caused by poor planning practices. If you need public representation on any of your planning committees, please feel free to call me at 289-668-9108. Rebecca is the name. Fort ErieL2A54132 St. CatharinesL2S312the people in this community need to develop more a sense of belonging, we need more inclusion to general groups, not to communities of different qualities Because this is a one country , one city, when we are thinking in our community of origin we lost the capacity of thinking in our development personal and if we are no happy in this area we cannot aporte nothing.The isolation because they don't have opportunity in different areas economic, social, cultural and the most important is people don't have opportunity to socialize and the humans are social by nature! Community Channel of St Catharines or issuer of community! St. CatharinesL2P45132We have a housing crisis in Niagara and it needs to be talked about and dealt with. Niagara FallsL2E34251If you don't have quality work and employment, you are going to move elsewhere. If you want to build a decent community and an ideal place to live, you need to have jobs that pay decently (more than minimum wage, are not seasonal) and that you can live off of instead of scrape by month to month. If you don't have jobs/employment for the the city's residents educated residents, they will move elsewhere to where there is better jobs/pay.The city spends too much time and money (our money) on politicians and squabbles that shouldn't have happened in the first place. I believe it comes down to two things, mis-managed money and mis-managed direction (of where to spend that money on the city). As a young entrepreneur living in Niagara Falls, I'd like to see it grow and success leading me to stay here for the future, but as things sit now, I'm looking to move elsewhere for better opportunities, better standard of living, better pay. Perhaps a suggestion is suitable, in addition to sending out surveys, and sponsored Facebook posts, put together a quarterly group of people that range in age and from all backgrounds (career backgrounds) and bring them a list of a budget and items that can be done, using their knowledge and experiences have them provide a suggested write up of the priority of what should be done first, expense wise what should be spent and most importantly WHY. WellandL3C23514These people need some help, ASAP....it's been FRIGID this winter. Obviously something isn't working correctly if they are choosing outside over everything else.I love this beautiful city/area. We're very diverse, in many ways. Lots of people just need a hand with something, and maybe technology could help connect us all, by safe means. Other, please specifyL2E32451Because it is important to keep people employedI feel our region has many problems that arent being solved. I would like to see a Niagara 311 like Edmontons. My friend came home and showed me it while visiting. You can report potholes, parked cars that shouldnt be where they are, and many more things. I think this would increase community involvement and possibly create jobs as I feel there would be an increased of issues. But if the Region is willing to work with residents, I think we could have a more beautiful region. I know of several potholes that I would address to the Region. I feel that this app should be free, accessible, and the region would have to respond in a timely manner. This should be for all cities of the region, not just one city like Edmonton. Port ColborneL3K2134We are facing different economic and social challenges today. I would like to see areas with approved zoning for tiny and small homes in a community environment. Seniors need independence and don't need, can't afford space; young couples need a place to start out that leaves a smaller carbon footprint; we have too many people living alone in oversized spaces, cut off from the community. There is no other approved tiny/small home development in Ontario, yet the demand is high, very high. Most tiny home dwellers are very eco-conscious. I'd be prepared to build one, or develop some land for this purpose myself. It would put us on the 'desirability' map. St. CatharinesL2R231Jobs drive prosperity. Our region has been saddled with the reputation of a job loss region. We are not known as a region that offers high paying employment. As a boarder community .. business experiencing high energy costs is amplified by the fact that our neighbours across the river are using their cheap energy that we provide to them to attract our businesses. I have an idea that i think can counter this threat. Technology plays a factor in the solution. Niagara FallsL2G51342I can foresee a large shift in wealth transfer and the process has begun. Blockchain is our opprotunity to prosper.The community is facing many challenges. Blockchain the technology of the future. This will bring new life to our many industries, from transportation to healthcare. Blockchain is not just a currency, I believe with smart contracts we can increase effectiveness upwards of 10 fold in some industries. I have been studying this technology for 2 years, and the possibilities seem endless. Let's not be the last community to take advantage of the opprotunities at hand. I would be pleased to help develop and share my idea's. Niagara FallsL2G32514 St. CatharinesL2R45312Landing a good job in this area is slim to none. Even with a good education. If there was a better transit system, like the go train, it would open up thousands of job opportunities that would not be available otherwise for people in the Niagara region. If one could obtain a decent paying job that would decrease the amount of people applying and using social assistance for housing. And students who just graduated have better chances of finding a job they went to school for if there was more accessibility to jobs, even further away. Even with the minimum wage increase, it is still difficult to obtain a well paying job with an education. More opportunities would be available if there was a better transit system. The Niagara region needs a go train that runs daily. Niagara FallsL2H45312Everywhere in the world we need jobs and housing.We have designed and engineered fully sustainable net zero communities. We have been able to exceed Cmhc's net zero requirements by 100%. We offer local jobs, educate people, municipalities and governments. Our communities produce all of its own energy, has it's own waste treat and water generator, if required. The cost is low enough for anyone on a fixed income to afford. We need to look after our young and aging population. Niagara FallsL2E15432I chose that security, crime and safety was the most important. Mainly because, as good as our police crime units are thanks to the new police station on Valley Way, the crime seems to still be very high rated with stolen property, drugs, and even trespassers in Niagara. Also, because people don't stop until you make them stop, which leaves things hard to feel secure and safe. Even if we are to send more crime forces into Niagara Falls, i still think the odds of getting our property stolen is still high. but surveillance and security cameras around more town houses or apartments could seriously help us find whom stole someone's property so they can at least get what was stolen back and proof on who stole it. My community is facing a big issue in our economy due to things like our own environment, the community, but mostly because of the high rent with the new casino in the falls that many complain about. Technology could be part of the solution if the person behind the technology can help this town have reasonable rent prices. Especially for those like me whom don't or cannot go into the casino with what little money we make. Therefore, the one thing i think this town could really use is more reasonable rent or something to benefit the people more rather than the second casino in Niagara Falls. Niagara FallsL2J45123 Niagara FallsL2G52341Self explanatory. The unemployment rate in Niagara has been high for years due to the loss of industry. Niagara FallsL2H52134You didn't list the my actual solution to this situation. Investing in Niagara's public library system will support nearly everything on this list for every resident in the region. Public libraries do just about everything you have listed - and then some - they are a community hub (community belonging) that is open to all, that provides free access to internet and wifi (connectivity), support for learning and education for infants through seniors, work and employment support, arts culture and heritage classes and programs, people getting started newcomer services, health and wellness programming and partnerships, housing and shelter and so forth. You can invest in the public libraries in the region and tackle all of these areas to great success - the libraries are already doing most of it with the resources they have so imagine what they could do with an investment like this!Breaking down barriers, being inclusive, and being accessible are all areas the public libraries work on every day. Technology is a huge barrier and indicator of inequity - libraries provide free wifi and internet access to people who can't afford a computer or wifi at home. So many people have no idea that what is often now considered a basic service is an unreachable luxury to many. Libraries also offer basic computer classes that are always full, and many wouldn't believe that there are so many people in our world that don't know how to use a mouse. Nearly every governmental service these days is only accessible through online portals, yet so many people don't have the skills or education to access the services or file the forms. Libraries are helping people every day with these tasks using the resources they have. (Disclaimer - I am a Librarian with a public library in Niagara Region. If you sit down with the CEO's of the 12 library systems in the Region, they will give you a limitless list of issues and solutions our community is facing, and how technology solutions offered through the public libraries would impact the entire community.) WellandL3B12453We need to give better incentives to keep industries here. Too much poverty Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S5Without jobs, there is no economy and all the other problems increase. Encourage companies to choose Niagara as a good place to invest. PelhamL0S5If Niagara has employment, more is possible to invest in housing, business, family development, wellness. We need to this as a whole community "NIAGARA ". We are known as this outside of the area, not this city that city. Promote as such, build as such, allow the Whole area to be marketed and promoted and employment will be considered. Although the area has a good gross income, the high speed is dismal and needs to be improved, not patched, not just the green spaces but older communities. Basic use is not acceptable for the future WellandL3C4321 Niagara FallsL2E54213Shelter is crucial. If food security had been on the list, that would have been my first choice. Food, Housing, Health: these are basic human needs on which any society should be predicated.An aging population seeking ways to stay in touch with community in the 21st century needs technology more than ever. St. CatharinesL2S23154I think good health first....weather it is physical or mental means positive ambition Diversity in leaders. St. CatharinesL2S231Niagara needs one transit system. Merge St. Catharines Transit, Welland Transit, Niagara Falls Transit, Niagara Region Transit, the smaller town transit systems (NOTL, Pelham), the accessibility transit network, etc. into ONE enterprise, one set of branding, intergrated with Presto from launch. As it is now is silly, protectionist and fails to meet present day needs, not to mention future. Has to happen before GO arrives. People moving to Niagara will be expecting this, economic prosperity cannot accelerate until Niagara has a modern transit system. WellandL3B43521Need more jobs and need to stop outsourcing. This isn't really what I would consider significant but I do have a suggestion concerning the alarming amount of potholes, and how some keep popping up over and over. Why can't styrofoam be used, more specifically those styrofoam popcorn type things that are used in packing? Styrofoam can;t be recycled as it lasts forever, would it not be good as filling potholes then? Niagara FallsL2J15234This is where our strength potential is as a community of communities.Our community is suffering from a lack of youth retention. Technology could help solve our public transportation issues: a huge barrier to youth gaining access to meaningful employment. Niagara FallsL2E5This is just one of the things that we need to see more of safer transportation, with the green movement no one has thought of what city inferstruction could be retro fitted with a simple design to make bicycling safer or even e bikes/mobility scooters I have a idea that could change the way of transportation, make bicycling a lot safer along with e-sctoors/mobile assistive scooters. Little about my self I love bicycling hate stop lights why? Bicycles are not big enough to change the stop light from red to green, solution? In the bike lane you have NFC reader bicycle has a NFC tag which tells the stop light basicly the same thing the push button does hey someone wants to cross, theses tags can also be registered to the police in case of theift, age, name, sex, ect to help identify the true owner, could also have important medical information just encase you were in a accident, tags can be bought and updated at city hall, could even go further and see how cycles do use that stop for further traffic shaping ideas. I hopefully covered enough to peak interested in how a few big problems could be solved with simple tags. Port ColborneL3K4251As a former resident of a big city,Port Colborne is lacking certain franchises to post its economy ei: Starbucks,gaint tiger,2nd McDonald's and pizza places. This would help create more jobs, tourism and more people moving to Port Colborne. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S51324Educational quality is the cornerstone of a vibrant, innovative and inclusive community.Aging population with rising housing prices possibly making it more difficult to attract a greater diversity of population and more members of the creative class. PelhamL0S14235If people care about their community, and are informed, and feel "connected" with their neighbours and fellow town/city residents we would have less crime and pollution with more economic benefits from less waste and corruption.Lack of transparency, with significant waste (or corruption). Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S43521NOTL needs to be reachable and connected to larger hubs such as Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, for residents and for incoming tourism.Public Transportation, and technology could help with booking, scheduling and special event information PelhamL0S21354Connectivity relates to all other itemsunseen rapid urban spawl Needs proper planning and checks & balances St. CatharinesL2R13542Without health & well-being, little else is possible.A major issue here in Niagara is barriers that too many Niagarans face to being able to take advantage of employment opportunities that provide income adequate to covering basic necessities of living, such as healthy eating and secure, quality housing. Applications of technology should be explored for potential to lessen these barriers. Just two examples might be: Use of technology to create or modify employment opportunities to lessen/remove barriers that exclude folks who would otherwise be capable; e.g., technology to facilitate working from home or from readily-accessed/accessible locations. Use of technology in mapping multi-modal transit routes (e.g., sidewalks, bike lanes, public transit) to improve access to employment opportunities, affordable housing, and quality food retail (e.g., grocery stores and farmers' markets). Port ColborneL3K13425Need more jobs. Need less government employees. You could probably get rid of half the employees and not even notice. Same with politicians. St. CatharinesL2R45213Improving transportation and mobility will enable those who rely on public transportation greater opportunities for employment and as a result the economic prosperity of our Region. The restrictive schedules of our current public transit (frequency and connectivity between municipalities) is a deterrent to using public transit for individuals who are able to purchase vehicles. If public transit was improved then more members of the public would be willing to leave their vehicles at home and use it which is a benefit to the environment. It would also reduce the traffic congestion that has been increasing in a number of areas during rush hour a.m. and p.m. (Welland Ave. / Fourth Ave. St. Catharines for example). If the entire system is improved, people will be inspired to use it, not just those who have no option but to use public transit. Until schedules and connectivity between our municipalities improves, ridership will not likely increase to include more of our population (commuters opting for public transit, leaving car at home etc.) . As someone who lived previously in Montreal where I only used public transit, I would be a huge supporter of leaving my car at home and using it here if I could do so efficiently. Right now that is not the case.Affordable housing. I am fortunate enough to own a home however, what I hear from friends, neighbours, co-workers and other members of my community is that it is very difficult to find affordable housing that is in decent condition. There are too many slum lords buying up property and not maintaining it, charging tenants ridiculous rental fees. Many renters are barely scraping by as most of their income goes towards rent. Also, with housing prices so high for buyers and rent so high for renters, it seems that those who do not already own a home will have a very difficult time moving towards that goal as they are paying so much month by month. There needs to be another option. Affordable housing is an investment in our communities. WellandL3C5make niagara a hub for tele communte WellandL3C3214Learning and education was #1 because this initial focus sets the overall goals for all individuals/entrepaneurs/ and all local businesses to learn new innovative steps through peer support combined with local Colleges (Niagara College Welland) to be specific in conjunction with workshops in different fields of study. Local High schools also have a lot to offer in form of workshops. This is why I choose education and learning. We all have expertise in different areas and not many outlets to share. Education and learning promotes good practices in all areas in this list. In the city of Welland, we once were a major gateway of manufacturing and distribution of raw materials through the famed Welland Canal in conjunction with the mighty St Lawrence Seaway. We had several large manufacturers. Atlas Steels, Union Carbide, Ennisteel, Page Hersey, Welmet, Welland Iron And Brass, Wabasso (Cotton Mill), Stelco, Christies (Bakery), Gencorp, Haun Drop Forge, Fanthom Technologies( Manufacturing Plant) , Hopkins Steel. This is a very depressing list of lost jobs and empty rotting buildings susceptable to pyromania, rat infestation, homeless abodes, and dangerous exploring areas for curious individuals. This $ 50000000.00 would.be a huge kick start for Welland and maybe put us back into appreciating our Rose City Don't get me wrong, I am appreciative of Welland for what the city has done for us, it's just some of the decisions just font male sense. I know it always comes down to money and where to spend it, but come on. There is a lot of young entrepreneurial talent here in this city. We need to utilize the empty buildings or a specific building to set up entrrpaneurial workshops, know how workshops, workshare ideas, think tank sessions, local small business input on how success as achieved. Feedback sessions and educational recommendations, free workshops for people with mental issues and how to be entrepreneurs ( understandably not all) people with physical limitations on how to be successful with small business advise and ecommerce. Health workshops are very important in preventative maintenance to loosen the burden on overworked doctors and hospitals. Free workshops on city safety regional safety and policing workshops. Interconnectivity among city government regional government. Social media awareness and scamming. How to use internet for safe searching and avoiding scams. Senior workshops for computer safety and scamming threats. Being aware of how society has changed from.what we knew to what we know. By building on all aspects of learning and education and utilizing an empty building converted into free. Yes free workshops to understand digital age movement for health and learning. In the community of Wellland the significant issue I see is loss of manufacturing leading to empty buildings, long commutes for some.for manufacturing jobs, the high rate of individuals on OR SO ( please don't get me started on that.) With education and mentoring leading to.a better understanding of how to earn a living while maintaining a healthy prosperous lifestyle we might be able to turn the stigmata of a jobless and retirement city into a healthy prosperous city of entrepaneurs and small business owners armed with.educated foresight and goals to achieve and health to strive for while.preparing for retirement or continiing retirement in the Rose City (Welland). Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S1432Quality of lifeSignificant issue is rapid urban development St. CatharinesL2T4231Thorold has so much potential, but nobody knows it except for the people who live in Thorold. There are some great little stores opening up, but they aren't being supported by the larger community.Students are encroaching upon the area, and it's losing its curb appeal. There should be limits on the number on students that can live in any given area. Schools should promote student-only areas, and the government should prevent people from buying up entire neighbours and renting them to students. I also think that there should be a full bike path from the Pen Center to NC for students. At one point, there is no bike path, and vehicles get up to 70 km an hour. It's dangerous, and it deters healthier and greener modes of transportation. Once this is up and running, NC would totally benefit from a bike-sharing system, which could be promoted and handled over social media. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S23451Effectively, there is very little public transport in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Many people are becoming older and cars are no longer going to be reliable.Helping people getting started here and staying here. St. CatharinesL2P54231 St. CatharinesL2R51342It helps the most people the most ways. Housing, food security, self esteem and more. Getting rid of the multiple layers of government that are holding us back. St. CatharinesL2S54123There is a lack of affordable housing in Niagara. There is a major wait list. Build more housing and reduce the wait list. Niagara FallsL2H43521It helps out a lot of areas, but it starts with thisNot enough year round jobs. Fort ErieL2A31524A healthy safe environment is the basis for quality of life.The infastucture is falling apart. Quit spending money on pet projects and fix the roads and sewers. That is what local politicos should do. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S21My husband and I are both disabled with mobility issues. Even though a lot of things have happened to make it easier for us simple things still could be done to make it better. An example is the Service Ontario located here in Virgil does not have a handicapped accessible door. You must stand and wait for someone to let you in and out if you are on a scooter or in a wheelchair because it is not automatic in any way. This should not be allowed in a government building.We are a community with many disabled and senior citizens. There are no programs for grocery delivery available anymore. Any programs that used to do this have all cancelled this feature. I see on a regular basis people trying to get out on a scooter or with a walker to pick up needed groceries when you have snow and ice they may go weeks without being able to get basic food for themselves. Programs to order groceries online are available but none will deliver to your house. What are people who cannot get out supposed to do for food in this community? St. CatharinesL2T4312Community is the number one predictor for living a long life. We have the Welland Canal pathway, but it's cold, uninviting, empty, and isolated. I used to live in Calagary, and EVERYONE used the Bow River boardwalk because it was well maintained, connected the entire city. (you could get anywhere on it), there were little shops adjacent to it (bike repair shops, coffee shops, icecream shops), and there were beautiful places to sit down and enjoy local, gigantic art installations. In addition to making the changes above, we could have little signs on the Welland Canal pathway that people could scan to learn more about the canal and the what the city offers. The sign could be like "Stop here to check out Niagara College's Teaching Winery and Brewery". The Welland Canal pathway has so much potential, but it's not inviting right now. I don't feel safe on it as a woman because there are so many isolated parts where there is not a soul in sight. Let's making the path safer and more inviting by making it a destination in itself! St. CatharinesL2N1423 St. CatharinesL2R13245Because connectivity is the base for a smart city. All systems and platforms need to be connected in order to be able to have multiple (or one huge) databases with tremendous amounts of data to be mines and used intelligently.Lack of advanced systems that allow economical growth in an individual level through technology. Smart electric grids could be a big thing, but there's no base system to implement it. Public transport could definitely be smarter, implementing technology not only for payments but for scheduling, failure reporting and contingency, etc. All sorts of sensors could be implemented accords the city's public areas, for purposes such as noise detection, cameras safety system, smart traffic management, etc. WellandL3B45132We need health care for the people of Ontario ...... St. CatharinesL2M45321 St. CatharinesL2R41325I feel creating and strengthening communal bonds and relationships are very important to the overall health and vitality of Niagara. Affordable housing is a significant issue in St.Catharines, smart tiny homes would be a solution. St. CatharinesL2R4123Affordable housing and mobile housing will be critical as we try to adapt to disruptions in the near future or the next economic recession. Tiny houses can be moved closer to work to reduce commutes and congestion.Copenhagen censors in it's bike lanes so if you keep up a consistent speed you get green traffic lights. Led tunnel lights that can be set to a different color via a smart phone app. A cell phone that uses phone sensors to detect potholes. White asphalt to reflect street light. Beneficial bacteria to prevent nutrient run off into lake Ontario. St. CatharinesL2T15432 St. CatharinesL2S21453We need a strong "green" community Center that is available year round with indoor turf fields for various sports, aquatic, gymnasium- accessible and outdoor turf fields, gardens, splash pad where only water is turned on by activating it using body power or wheelchair parked on certain spot....solar powered lights (outdoor) and solar heated pool etc...people are constantly leaving the city for all of these things!! Transportation is poor, Better inner city transportation St. CatharinesL2T4There needs to be more manufacturing. There is not enough good paying jobs. St. CatharinesL2M13245Because to me community means belonging Cost of connectivity PelhamL3B31542If you have high crime, drug problems etc.. and people don't feel safe and secure ... all the rest doesn't matter.Lack of confidence and trust in local government. People need to be part of the solution first - technology should only be a tool. I'm tired of too much emphasis on technology - we hardly can get a hold of anyone to talk to a person in person - always voice mail. Niagara FallsL2E23451I think that when youth see opportunity and a future they become more engaged. If more people are employed at a good rate it stimulates growth in other areas. I honestly had a hard time picking the top 5 as so many of these issues do need improvement in our area.petty crimes and thefts, homelessness and mental health issues. Seasonal type employment at low pay rates. St. CatharinesL2N12345we need to be digitally connected in order to improve our opportunities in the new IoT or the 5G telecommunication systemsubiquitous wifi and affordable network connectivity Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S12345 St. CatharinesL2N45123I think a lack of affordable housing is the most important issue at this time facing Niagara. A significant issue is the decline of the middle class, and increasing gap between the rich and the poor. I think technology could be part of the solution if internet wifi was considered a public good (similar to water and electricity). It would be much cheaper than the current model - with everyone purchasing it on their own from service providers like Cogeco. Other, please specifyTorontoM5H21345Comprehensive and accurate air quality monitoring is the first and most crucial step to controlling air pollution. Many municipalities are adopting smart city programs; sensor-equipped smart cities are expected to emerge over the upcoming decade and relevant infrastructure is being planned and installed. It is anticipated that real-time air monitoring will be an essential part of Canada's future smart city infrastructure. A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG), in partnership with the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosols Research (SOCAAR) a multi-disciplinary research consortium headquartered at the University of Toronto has developed AirSENCE (Air SENsor for Chemicals in the Environment), a real-time air quality monitoring device. AirSENCE is an integrated, portable, reliable, and low-cost air pollution monitoring system that can be accessed at any time remotely via the Internet or Smartphone. With the ability to continuously and quantitatively analyze multiple air pollutants at low cost, this innovative device is a revolution in environmental monitoring. With global urbanization fuelling the smart cities growth, there is a huge demand for the air quality sensors like AirSENCE that can be embedded into smart city infrastructure. The data collected from AirSENCE units has a wide range of applications: localized air quality monitoring, urban city planning, traffic-related air quality monitoring, industrial monitoring and smart cities related applications. Conventional air quality monitoring stations are very expensive, bulky in size and covers a small portion of the city. Through proposed Internet of Things (IoT)-based air quality monitoring solution, low-cost, compact and portable AirSENCE units will be deployed at key locations within the city (schools, intersections, hospitals, downtown area, highways, etc.) for real-time air quality monitoring. The primary objective is to improve the quality of life of residents and city's resilience to air quality concerns by providing finer scale real-time air quality information that can be used in a wide number of applications. Data from AirSENCE network will be used to illustrate the potential benefits of smart city infrastructure in terms of communicating air quality information, so as to guide the development of policies and intervention relating to land use, transportation and protecting public health. Through the implementation of sustainable air quality monitoring network, the city will serve as an example for other cities that are willing to incorporate air quality sensors in order to enhance the interconnectedness of their smart city infrastructure. City can link AirSENCE air quality network with traffic management system to alleviate air pollution 'hot spots' caused by queuing traffic. Integration of real-time air quality data with traffic analytics will help the city to quantify the emission levels near intersections to better understand the impact of road-traffic emissions on air quality. Real-time traffic-related air pollutants information can also be used to limit heavy truck traffic to specific routes and times, target high emitting vehicles, implement anti-idling regulations and traffic reduction policies. Real-time accurate and reliable air quality data from AirSENCE network, combined with other smart-city related data, can be used to understand patterns, predict potential incidents and take preventative action. Public awareness of air quality is key for reducing emission levels and reducing exposure. Access to real-time air pollution data raises public awareness and keep the public informed and engaged. This will have a huge impact especially on the transport behaviour with access to real-time air quality information and notifications or alerts. St. CatharinesL2N54231Through learning and education many of the other areas can be achievedMany lower income citizens feel out of touch or disconnected from the community and are concerned with the day to day struggles of making ends meet. Many are unaware of resources and services the region has to offer. Current smart cities in Canada utilize technology via social media and city apps to connect to citizens, advise them of resources and keep them informed of what's happening in the area. St. CatharinesL2M21354Opportunities for individual education and skills development are critical to the achievement of overall community economic prosperity. St. CatharinesL2R41532Economic prosperity enables the rest. Data and Analytics Technology to help identify the most important issues. Find ways to utilize available data to track status of all issues as well as overall well being of citizens. Monitor trends, significant changes or moves, correlations. Surveys like this can be one source of input, but there could be other data that can help guide decisions to maximize community well being. Fort ErieL0S31254community involvement results in all other areas being activatednot all people have access to internet at a local community level PelhamL0S12354I feel that if people are connected, they are engaged and the other factors fall into place. I feel that our community has spotty internet connection. It is made up of urban and rural areas. I think it should be equal connection for all regardless of location or economics. In the technological world we live in, it's imperative that everyone has the right to access services that can provide a better quality of life. PelhamL0S53214I believe that having an educated population is the key to solving many of the other challenges that communities face. I don't necessarily mean in terms of traditional education where I think we do a pretty good job, but in terms of educating our community about current issues and making sure that have the digital competencies needed for the 21st century. This could be anything from making sure people re-entering the workforce have the skills they need to making sure older citizen, who can't get out of their homes as much, can stay connected through social media.A significant issue is having a highly skilled workforce. Technology could be apart of the solution by providing learning resources both on-line and in community centres. Fort ErieL0S53241 Port ColborneL3K1342When a community has economic prosperity, it filters down to everyone in the community.Affordable housing is one of things the city is struggling with. Technological advances in the built form could help get more housing up faster and safer than in the past. Niagara-on-the-LakeL0S42153Niagara is not connected. Our cities are separated by space, both in terms of distance from city core to city core, and in terms of density. Settlement is spread out. Nothing acts to draw space together, ie. encourage connected high density development. The result is a spatial desert, a stretched apart built environment fabric that struggles to support the community we claim to sustain. There too few spaces to regularly interact with other people from the public, too few walk-able connections and points of interest spaced too far apart. This apartness is to the detriment of our culture. We need to realign urbanization. Port ColborneL3K45321Niagara needs jobsLack of decent industry Fort ErieL0S35421I believe that technology plays an important role in the transformation of our workforce. While AI may make certain roles/functions obsolete, if we train our workforce in emerging technologies, we can help citizens build better careers & attract businesses (both physically and virtually) looking for skilled and talented team members.We are lacking industry and skills training at a local level. Fort ErieL0S12345All roads in Fort Erie need resurfacing. The pot holes are atrocious. Fort ErieL0S25431So many people want to stay in the area, but end up leaving due to lack of suitable jobs. Lack of adequate senior living. Most seniors stay in their homes longer than they should because they dont want to leave Stevensville. Fort ErieL2A12453Fort Erie businesses have suffered for a number of years now, our family owns a small business that has not been the same since the Fort Erie slots had been taken away.The ability to draw business from outside communities especially being a border town. More social media talking about Fort Erie businesses and adding a tourist attraction like the slots. Fort ErieL2A34521Research the last time a new industry entered the boundary of F.E. vs. the growing population.Technology jobs!!!! Fort ErieL2A12345Actually, they are all very importantLack of big and steady employers Fort ErieL2A34251Industry is leaving the area all the time. Youth with good educations must leave the area to get suitable employment. Aging infrastructure is a big issue in Fort Erie. Wastewater systems. Roads. We pay a lot more in taxes and water for what you get compared to other cities in the area. Not sure exactly how technology can help but I think we need to use smarter solutions to these issues. ThoroldL2V51432Without economic prosperity, Niagara will be unable to implement any improvement in any of the other areas. Fort ErieL2A2341It is a small town and there building lots of housing but not enough jobs to suport it. I have to go out of town for work and it's extra cost. Fort ErieL2A45123We have very little affordable housing options for young families starting out and Seniors that need to give up the upkeep of their homesI think training in technology fields would help train and provide jobs for local people. Fort ErieL0S32451 LincolnL0R21435 Fort ErieL2A5We need to become leaders in saving our woods and wild areas. We need to stop the proposed harbourtown development as it is proposed to cut down woods used by deer, fox, coyotes, wild turkeys, snakes and many varieties of birds and migrating birds. It also connects provincial wetlands to the lake and the wetlands are connected to the land through ditches and drains. This area is a natural filter for water before it enters the lake. This land is so important and valuable. There are lots of other areas in fort Erie for subdivisions. Help us save this land for people, animals and the environment.Council members who don't value the beautiful environment we have. Fort ErieL0S25134because in our Town there is a housing boom and valuable lands - wetlands - flora - carolinia forest - wildlife of all types are being destroyed all around us . this community is allowing developers to put in subdivisions and single dwelling homes that are at outrageous prices which invites larger city residents to come here and buy extremely expensive homes. there is virtually nothing being done to bring in any types of business and jobs for the people who live here. All of the lands are being destroyed and stripped with no thought to the future of what backlash this is going to have - Lake Erie is dying - wetlands are disappearing - creeks are being diverted and made into ditches. the run off of all the construction into the lands is destroying all creeks and streams and the creek that flows to Lake Erie is bringing more and more pollutants which are killing Lake Erie. A wise thing to do would be to halt all construction - save what we still have as far as the environment and wildlife and work towards a cleaner more environmentally progressive Town. We could be a shining example of a Town that put the environment first - without the creeks, the streams, Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the lands and PSW and naturally recovering areas and all of our dying beaches along lake erie and all the wildlife this Town will destroy itself the reason that people want to live here is because of natural resources and natural beauty and the beaches that we possess. we are on a collision course for disaster unless something is done now!full disclosure of all development that will happen in the Town before it happens and before it is approved so that citizens can be made aware of what is going on. Unfortunately - grandfathering in of very old subdivisions from up to 20 years ago has happened in two areas that i know of. This is not realistic - it is good for the developer and it is good for the Town but it is not good for the residents who find out too late what is happening. Technology moving forward should make all citizens of a community aware of all issues involving the environment so that we can as a community make wise decisions about the future of this Town and not after the fact. The Province is making progress on these issues - however - when a developer is allowed to be grandfathered in and they do not have to adhere to todays standards of environment protection this should not be allowed and this should stop here and now. The Province should be allowed to step in and stop this at a municipal level. The Province is allowed to make recommendations that endangered species exist on a site of land that is being developed but they do not have the authority to stop it. This is outrageous. In this day and age why anyone would want to allow for the destruction of flora and fauna is not only short sighted but morally wrong. We have an obligation to this Town to be good Stewards of our environment. So in conclusion technology could be useful in making all residents aware of what is going on in the Town as far as current and future development with links to all levels of government and organizations that could aid the citizen in knowing what options they have to continue the good work of saving the planet - one Town at a time. Technology allows now for citizens to contact their Town councillors and Mayor with their concerns - This needs to be expanded to include all levels of government and full disclosure of issues via technology need to be made daily to all residents - By laws must change to allow for this - maybe technology could also zero in on a by law that a resident needs to know about so they can offer their opinon to the Council and Mayor - not all citizens have the mobility to attend all town counsell open meetings - technology would allow all residents the chance to make comments to the counsell from their homes during a meeting. there are so many ways technology could and should be expanded to the benefit of the resident of a Town Fort ErieL2A25341Fort Erie might be growing with new homes and people moving here, but not employment opportunities. We need more industry here. People from Toronto might be moving here but are either retired, or work outside of town.Fort Erie is relatively isolated from the rest of the region. We need employment and better transportation. Not sure about technology being a part of the solution Other, please specifyRidgewayL0S4531Unemployment is high here. There are few job opportunities. The young people have to move away to find employmentAgain, no job opportunities. Attract businesses here with tax reduction etc. Fort ErieL2A54312Overpriced housing and minimal career level wage employment. Fort ErieL2A3Fort Erie needs more jobs Fort ErieL2A13524Economic prosperity will drive improvement in all of the other areas Transportation. Whether it be for employment or entertainment, unless you have a vehicle your choices are incredibly limited. I have teenaged children and there is almost nothing for them to do in Fort Erie and no way for them to get outside Fort Erie (unless I drive them). Given the large geographic area of the Region and the mixed land-use (urban/rural) developing an inter-municipal, interconnected Public Transportation network is a significant challenge. However, technology and alternative transportation options may provide a solution. If the Region and municipalities focused on providing transportation along main routes (between municipalities) to hubs - there may be an opportunity to partner with alternative Transportation providers (e.g. Uber etc.) to get from hubs to destinations. Using route planning technology (like Google Maps or the Uber app) people could plan their routes from door-to-door and it could be made affordable. Perhaps a transit/Uber pass could be an option. This would also drive additional employment opportunities for drivers. Fort ErieL0S21345Very few doctor's in Fort Erie taking new patients and we are too far from a hospital with good quality hospital care. We are becoming a retirement community and require better options for health care here. Residents are keeping their doctor's in GTA because of the limited options here. WellandL3C2314Without an affordable and safe place to live, almost everything else on this list falls off the table.Welland has hectares of brownfields left by closed plants such as Atlas Steels, Stelco, Union Carbide, John Deere etc. Yet city officials whine about lack of land for new industries. A public -private partnership with brownfield owners to clean sites is an obvious technological challenge. Fort ErieL0S12453Strong economy will fuel, fund, and drive the rest of the areas to improve.Protecting wetlands that were actually created by previous development which now hinders current land development. Fort ErieL2A12354 Fort ErieL2A23541People need to work where they live. Some don't have proper transportation so it's difficult to work outside of the town. Businesses are closing and there is lack of jobs. Many people are on welfare or live below poverty level. Everyone should have access to high speed internet to allow for thorough job searches or online employment. Small businesses should have incentives to remain open ie. Lower taxes or the town offering to lend a hand when times are tough thru advertising or support. Fort ErieL2A45132Because more people would live here and invest if there was reliable emergency health care. It's 45 mins. to Hamilton and the Niagara System WILL kill you. Niagara FallsL2H21453Exemplary Health Care, similar to Toronto a very integrated system that makes sense is important for our aging population. Fort ErieL0S42531 Fort ErieL2A1Desperatly need a bicycle scooter lane incorporated into all main roads, not having them is dangerous and inconvenient for both vehicles and bicyclists. Alot of roads have a wide shoulder and could be widened an extra couple feet easily and inexpensively. It would promote healthy living, increase traffic flow and keep frustration down. Theres a huge infrastructure of roads that were built at a huge expense and arnt being utilized because there isnt enough room to legally stay in the same lane as a bicyclist or scooter when over taking them. St. CatharinesL2R45312Complete Streets and complete communities impact so many facets of day to day living in Niagara whether combating climate change, promoting active transportation and healthy living. The cost of creating Complete Streets is very high. Determining the current completeness of our road networks would allow municipalities and the region to effectively spend capital dollars in filling in the gaps and promoting complete communities. ThoroldL0S34215Without the earth we don't exist. Everything should start with making sure it's okay in the present and for the future. We are currently not doing a good job and have catch up to do. Look at the streets in our Thorold country side and farm fields (where our food grows) covered in garbage. We live in our own filth and wonder why we have high cancer rates and stress related illness.My immediate community of St. Johns is threatened by surrounding development. It's a significant, unique natural environment, but parts of it are dying because of human impact in and nearby it. Neighbouring Fonthill is developing at a fast rate and does not seem to acknowledge the negative impact to the environment in nearby communities. People passing through toss garbage out the window constantly. The fish in the spring fed creeks are dying. Technology could help track environmental change and find ways to protect and improve the environment. Technology could help educate about better practices. It could help gather people for activities. Community cohesiveness has diminished from what it used to be for a small community. The firehall and public school no longer function in this area. The pumpkin farm went commercial and "sold out". There is no gathering place for locals and no reason to get together. Technology could help determine the most likely ways people might want to get together. Technology could help keep people in the know and bring them together. Technology could help create artistic, historical and cultural expression and documentation of this great little community in the unique Short Hills. It could help raise awareness and protect all the things that are treasured about the area. Niagara FallsL2H32541 St. CatharinesL2W45312I chose my number one area as people getting started because I am going to be a new graduate this spring and I am having a lot of difficulty finding a job. It is hard to be out of school and find your way when full time jobs are very rare. I think if we focus on helping graduates finding their path and exploring job life, they will be much more inclined to reside in Niagara and not move elsewhere for employment. St. CatharinesL2S15423I believe it is important to support the arts in our community because the arts help to develop community, creativity and critical thinking. We need to focus on inclusivity and embracing multi-culturalism.Resources, housing, transportation for people with disabilities. Niagara FallsL2J25413Transportation is very outdated in Niagara. So hard to figure out bus schedules in this city. No cooperation between city and regional transit. It affects young and old people; tourists and locals, not just one segment of population. Have an app to tell you when next bus is coming, which bus to take to get to where you want to go, how to link city and regional transits etc Niagara FallsL2J2534 ThoroldL2V41523just look around. you answered this yourself thenhospitals are to full. better communication as to where to go for health issues and not have to wait for long hours. Niagara FallsL2G43125CLOSE TO CASINOS .NIGHT LIFE, WEALTHBETTER SAFER ROADS, NEED FOR CONSTANT REPAIR, CLEAN UP ALL THE FURNITURE AND JUNK DUMPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS DAILY PICK UP IS NEED EVEN IF IT IS THE REGIONAL ROADS..........DOES NOT PPRESENT A PRETTY PICTURE TO NEW VISITORS St. CatharinesL2T1 Niagara FallsL2H23541 Niagara FallsL2H21453I chose transportation being the most important area for improvement because with new autonomous vehicles the city should be prepared and accommodate the new technology. I would like my kids to grow up in a place where owning a car is something we did in the past. Let's be proactive as you said! The significant issue in our community I believe is that people are being disconnected between each other and issues that can bring to fatalities through mental health problems are not addressed. Niagara FallsL2H54231As a long-time Niagara Falls resident who works in the construction industry as an Engineering Technologist, it is frustrating having to travel to Hamilton and beyond (to the GTA) for work. Fort ErieL2A45312Because we don't have a hospital since someone thought the LHIN was a good idea. Hospitals should be up to the town to run. The town always raised money to buy Douglas Memorial Hospital what it needed. LHIN took everything and gave it to Niagara Falls. >8(Since we don't have a hospital, we could text the coroner to come get us and take us to one of our three graveyards since an ambulance wouldn't get us to St. Catharines in time. Niagara FallsL2E43512Hard to get around niagara in a timely manner without a vehicle WellandL3C34215 Niagara FallsL2J43521The Niagara region needs a lot more green vehicle charging stations. The majority of the charging stations in Niagara are privately run and expensive. Niagara FallsL2G52314Environmental issues impact everyone. Port ColborneL3K34215Affordable housing is currently not available to all. Affordable housing, is not available my solution would not only make all housing affordable but also create 100's of permanent full time jobs. St. CatharinesL2N51324I chose connectivity as the number one, because it can help strengthen the city/region as a whole. Connectivity will allow for many of the other areas to flourish.No draw for a younger population. Lack of jobs and living appeal. A city that is updated and innovative in technology can attract employers and continue on a path of growth and prosperity. WellandL3C32145Safe communities prosper because there is less worry. Fort ErieL2A53412Because I feel that the town can be improved to get around to the major areas of the town, and having easier access. As most of the towns major shopping is spread along Garrison Road length wise, rather then a more square like area. Having a shuttle type vehicle separate from Fort Erie Transit to go to major hubs along the shopping areas (Example: Tim Hortons near Central Ave, to Canadian Tire plaza, To Sobeys Plaza, To Walmart Plaza, To Tim Hortons near Crescent Park, To Town Hall/Liseureplex), and use some type of camera counter to count the amount of people at a stop to see how effective it is. Maybe add Jarvis St if demand is high enough to connect that shopping district directly. St. CatharinesL2N23451There is a great need for good paying jobs not just minimum wage service/tourism jobs that don't support the cost of living in Niagara. All our young people have to move away to get jobs that lead to a career and a decent life style.It possibly could be if we attracted that kind of employer. Niagara FallsL2E52413 Niagara FallsL2H12453The most important improvement is always for the people directly. A sense of belonging in your community is a must for the locals and the new people coming here to live. Soooo many people do not have a family member and I would like them to feel like they belong here. We are lacking some nice condominiums by the Falls. We have enough hotels and restaurants. And we are lacking a full-time train to Toronto. Niagara FallsL2H1During the winter months the good neighbour policy. Of cleaning sidewalks don't happen. But they can clear driveway Niagara FallsL2G25413Transportation and Mobility was was my #1 because transportation affects everyone. When citizens can move easily and efficiently through the city everyone benefits. I would personally like to see more bike lanes and infrastructure for biking in the city. Niagara FallsL2H41523 WellandL3C53412 WellandL3C45132 WellandL3C2453We need public transportation between smaller areas. Especially Welland to Fonthill.Poor housing. More connection to community centres and home improvement. Port ColborneL3K21345I think that Health and Wellness is one of the most important things to have a great lifestyle. It is very important to make sure that all citizens know how to be health and live well. Niagara FallsL2H2314Because it is so hard to get around in Niagara without s car. Bus schedules are hard to read. Regional and local buses don't connect well. It's important for everyone local and touristsHave better ways of getting schedules online. Have buses come when regional buses match up with local buses and have a schedule that you can look at all systems together Niagara FallsL2E132Heavily involved with Arts and Culture WellandL3B5134health system is going to the dogs . to top heavy .work and employment for the people of the region! Fort ErieLOS25134the natural environment is being destroyed and is dying. without this everything else is irrelevant. the natural environment is being destroyed mainly with excessive development secondly with pollution air, ground and noise and inadequate sewage protection, lake, river, streams, creeks as well as ground water pollution. lake erie is dying and our town is not taking steps necessary to protect it. same goes for all natural bodies of water as well all wildlife is not being protected. the EAC is not given any power to help. the province is not being asked to step in and help by the Town regarding endangered species being destroyed. development at all costs is the current mandate of this town Niagara FallsL2J21543Niagara is becoming more of a retirement city, and could be much more so. But it is not a very good living city. Communitees are not well developed, physical design is not very conducive to new lifestyles, there are few effective programs for seniors and others who live outside of the tourist crush. Technology can be used to research needs, interests and ideas before d isions are made on budgets, developments and priorities. The city surveys I see are superficial and dont really dig for information. Other, please specifyL2H5324Transportation system in Niagara Falls is so hard to manage. Needs to be better ways to figure out where buses are and when they are coming. Also how to find routes that link with regional transport is importantSure. There are lots of ways technology could help. An easy way is to create an app that will correctly tell you how to get to places throughout the region using two or more transit systems Niagara FallsL2J23451It would be nice if the city cant fix the lowered manhole covers on the roads they could paint hem a different contrast colour so drivers could try to avoid them. Niagara FallsL2E23541We have a desperate need for all kinds of employment. So many jobs are low paying contract work and coming only in certain areas. We can't retain skilled workers and build new industries separate from tourism [and complementing tourism] with the existing manners of employment. We are watching our city dissolve because of lack of interest in employment diversity.Likely technology wouldn't be part of the solution to fixing roads and enforcing that people stop at the 4 way stop sign in front of my house. WellandL3B53421I am a mother of four amazing well educated young men and woman and even though they have so much going for them with access to education they now have loans and very little possibility of jobs in this area. If good well paying jobs were in place for all, then they would purchase homes, shop, pay local taxes to support all the other aspects of life. Provide the jobs and the rest will follow.Unemployment and crime. Niagara FallsL2E54231Not enough jobs for young people. Too much unemployment during the winter months. Port ColborneL3K453Desperate shortage of doctors. Long drive to major hospital in St. Catharines, and even the new "south Niagara" hospital will be longer in time to get to than St. Catharines. Nearly nil mental health care for seniors, or anyone as I understand it. We need to do better than this, with more emphasis on the patient. I would not leave a loved one alone in hospital without a strong advocate and person present. That is a sad truth.I am totally against 5G technology and will move if it is brought here, which is what I think this whole survey is really about. Having done a lot of research on this subject, more than anyone in my social sphere, I don't believe the "safety" levels are accurate or met, and in places such as Vancouver where it is piloted, I believe the research is not adequately reflective of the harm to humans. The Canadian Safety standard for cell phones is measured and met only when held an inch or more from the head. Is that how they meet the manufacturers' requirements? Or are they there to protect us and children? There should be a huge sign (like cigarette packs) warning people not to hold it close to them or sleep near it. WellandL3B21345It seems to me affordable or even free Internet service offers the best bang for the buck. It improves every other metric.Lack of decent jobs. Affordable access to the Internet could help people find jobs, training, network with each other, build their own businesses. Niagara FallsL2J12345Safety should always be #1Let us know more about things going on here n our community ie: in doctors offices etc.. ThoroldL2V54123 St. CatharinesL2P1423 WellandL3B32451 ThoroldL2V35124I work in the education field and see everyday how we are letting our community down with the graduates we are pushing through these days. They cant spell, or write, many are not fluent readers and how are they supposed to math without a calculator. None of these graduates are anywhere at all prepared to have a job. But they can work a computer, and what should any of the rest of it matter right? the world is just going to be a gigantic computer soon. I feel my community is not as connected as the past. Thorold is pretty small town and I would love to see it be a more friendly and connected place. I think technology could help here by advertising more activities going on, on social media and smart ad boards. (which are much easier to switch ads over on) Have more tech events happen around town. That's what people want these days is to look at a screen, so give them something that allows them to interact with their town peers. St. CatharinesL2M43152Without Health and Wellness, nothing else matters.I'm too new to this community to be knowledgeable about any significant issues. My area of the city seems almost perfect, but I guess maybe technology could be better employed to create a smoother traffic flow (smart traffic lights) within town. Other, please specifyWinonaL8E54312I am currently in the Transportation field and feel the Region needs updating when it comes to certain things. This will connect everyone in so many ways and make it easier to get around which can benefit the rest of the areas.In Winona we are currently developing a new shopping plaza which is causing a lot more volume in the city. With smarter transportation, traffic could be avoided by expanding the HSR to Winona and also having the Go Train go to Winona. Public transportation will be the future of every city. Niagara FallsL2J23451 Niagara FallsL2J43215The wait time for affordable housing is much too long. There is far too much emphasis on high end housing which caters to a commuter market as opposed to a local worker market.Council puts too much emphasis on "development" , without enough concern for environmental sustainability. Physical growth can not go on forever, and councilors need to plan for a time when further sprawl into surrounding rural lands is no longer possible. St. CatharinesL2R12345 WellandL3C1Crime is on the rise and so are mental health issues.Hospital beds, police, facilities for people with mental health issues Niagara FallsL2E35124Because we are destroying all of the Forest, Wetlands and meadows in areas like Thundering Waters and other places where they should be protected from development. When there is many more suitable spots. Niagara FallsL2E35124It's necessary for everyone, not just a niche interest group.Poor public transit - needs to run more often. Perhaps there could be a transit app that shows where the buses are, when one will be near your location etc. ThoroldL2V23514It is difficult to prioritize sectors that are interdependent or have the ability to influence the others; though if one is educated then that individual would hopefully be better equipped to influence their own health, employment and shelter. The soft skill instilled through an education would also make that individual more capable of participating in his/her own community, therefore instilling a sense of belonging.The impact of the '08 recession is still prevalent in Niagara and the impact will be generational. As families struggling to afford housing, utilities and food, they are ill-equipped to support the advancement of the next generation. I fear that we will see fewer young adults entering into and completing post-secondary education; limiting their ability to rise above their current status, which then will limit the next generation and next after that. The circle of poverty is difficult to break, but not impossible. Niagara should look at leveraging technology to break the cycle of poverty, buy fitting educational opportunities around the barriers that are preventing individuals from attaining a high school and post-secondary educations. This could include flexible and digital access to curriculum from all educational institutions in the Region; formation of support systems to address or alleviate underlying cause - access to food, shelter, and connectivity; and allow opportunities to find people and people find opportunities. St. CatharinesL2T35421It can have a significant impact on many of the other areas and is a global issue.Affordable housing and care for our aging population. I think given our demographics, our area could become a hub for senior related technology from a usage perspective but also perhaps a niche for Economic Development etc. ThoroldL2V45321 ThoroldL2V45132I think a strong economy that provides chances for people to improve their lives through employment and further education are crucial for a healthy community.At this time I believe addictions and mental health are big concerns in Niagara. Technology may help track problems and issues and be used as a tool to streamline and improve client services. Niagara FallsL2H4132540 % of my income goes to the city taxes. You only give credits to people over 65 years. The government instead gives credit to people with a low income. The age is not important. I am very scared to survive in this city.The city would need a open forum that everybody receives the city news. My impressions are some people know the city news the most don't. The city should have a weekly or monthly online flyer . Niagara FallsL2H5 Niagara FallsL2H51432 WellandL3B51432Nothing else matters if we don't take care of the environment.New industry/companies to the area. Making sure our infrastructure/business development can easily support new business that relies on the current technology. Niagara FallsL2H1243 St. CatharinesL2S25431Taxes are too Goddamn high discourages no new businesses coming to Niagara. A business will not relocate to an area with a well developed reputation for an inability to control its costs. That is why the Huffington Post listed St. Catharines ad the absolute worst city in the country to own a home and have a job.to pay for the mortgage.unemplymentUnemployment. Technology should now eliminate position in city and regional government. We employ too many people. Also governance in the area should be radically changed, we have too many elected officials, 83 for 400,000 population. Chicago has 16; New York 24. Regional govt should manage all city affairs and eliminate duplication. Why is there a Director of Economic Development and Tourism for Welland, what the hell does tea Regional guy do. For gods sake get your heads out of your arse and reduce the cost of government now!! It is costing us development and employment. If nothing else you should realize that the processes of the past 30 years have not worked. WellandL3B54123Affordable housing-not sure how tech will help Niagara FallsL2G53412as a person who doesn't have a car it is vital for me to travel around the city easily, and have the transfer points. My suggestion is to increase number of buses operating in the city, and make the afternoon bus schedule more convenient. As the time period between buses is too long and infrastructure within the city and between nearby cities (Welland, St Cathatines, Niagara - on - the - Lake) takes a lot of time. Also the buses between the cities operates 1 per hour and usually full with students, so basically you cannot get in and have to wait another hour for the next bus.Most of the entertainment places are tourism-oriented. Thus, the prices are higher and city needs more coffee shops and other distinct places where locals can go to spend their evening. Otherwise their choice is mostly Clifton Hill. Encourage usage of various social platforms like Foursquare to rise awareness for great local places for residents with promos, tips and recommendations. In the digital era, people are more likely to use their smartphones to search for a quality entertainment, rather than go to tourists-overcrowded places. St. CatharinesL2R31245You need to be healthy and mentally well in order for any other aspect of life to work well. My community has an issue with snow plows coming down side streets in a timely fashion after snowfalls. This has been better this year but is still an issue. Raising awareness about the Pingstreet app and making it easier to report unsafe roads on the app would be a great start to fixing this. WellandL3B31542Crime, safety and securityPublic infrastructure such as light pole equipped with LED and right sensor technology such as - Emergency readiness, real time weather and roadway monitoring, snow / freezing rain on the ground warning, air quality sensor, counting motorist / bikes / pedestrian, make intersection and downtown more safer in nighttime. St. CatharinesL2M54321It's no secret that St. Catharines/Niagara Region is struggling to provide employment opportunities for citizens of all ages that are stable, full-time, provide benefits, and provide a living wage. The majority of jobs that are available are for part-time food service or retail jobs, or the jobs that do exist within private/public industries are temporary/contract or part-time. This is not sustainable and drives a lot of skilled and talented citizens out of the Region. Furthermore, even having a job that pays more than a living wage in a comfortable/secure organization isn't fulfilling, since I look around at all of my friends/family/peers who are struggling to get by, or who have no desire to stay in the region. Furthermore, securing employment that is stable and related to your field/profession is not sustainable either - for many, these jobs are viewed as stepping stones that will eventually lead to relocating out of the region.There are numerous issues my community is facing that I've seen other respondents speak to - lack of employment/jobs that provide a living wage, lack of connectedness between community service agencies, lack of knowledge about available support services/resources, etc., transporation, etc. I would particularly like to speak to the lack of effort made to retain youth in our communities. Last year (and probably this year), St. Catharines hosted a youth forum that was promoted to youth 16-24 years of age with the intention of providing opportunities for them to contribute their opinions to inform the city's planning for the future. I attended this forum and found it extremely ineffective in facilitating contributions from a diverse range of youth - first, although postsecondary students were invited, the majority of attendees were high school students, and the nature of the information presented was targeted to that age group, and furthermore, the topics of discussion were determined by the city and the discussions were often geared towards the goals of the facilitators, and not the youth. The topics were also discussed in very superficial terms that I don't really see relevant to improving opportunities in the community - they were entrepreneurship, community engagement, mental health, and diversity. That's great, but those don't facilitate conversations about how youth feel about living in this region, what barriers they face as individuals, what questions they may have, etc. It's great to see efforts made to include high school students in community building, but at this point, I don't think it's effective to incorporate high school students with postsecondary students in efforts like this. First, high school students mostly want to leave this area because of the lack of opportunities and modernized city infrastructure. They want to expand their horizons, not hear propaganda about why they should stay in Niagara. Secondly, 16-24 is a huge age range, and the issues and experiences faced by people in this range are completely different. It is ignorant to lump them all together in a big group and think that you're getting representation of all of the issues and experiences faced by youth. Young adults are facing issues such as precarious work, no return on investment in their education through lack of opportunities, procuring affordable housing, childcare (because guess what, youth can be parents too!), lack of family support, etc. They generally don't want to be told again and again that "volunteering helps get jobs", "did you know that you can be your OWN boss?", and "let's talk about how we can be nicer to people", and everything else they have already heard, but don't have the resources or time to pursue. I think it would be significantly more effective to tap into Niagara College and Brock students to gain insight into their experiences in this city/region - first, many Niagara College students were born and raised here and intend to stay to work here. Secondly, we recruit numerous out-of-town Brock students who stay for a few years to get an education and then leave. We need to find ways to integrate these youth into our community building so that they develop an interest in staying in Niagara and contribute to its growth. We need to foster supports for our young professionals who want to contribute to this region, or else they are going to end up either leaving or not putting their education/skills to use because they need to take any job they can get that will pay them to support themselves. I think technology could be influential in generating connectivity between community agencies/services/companies/etc and aspiring young professionals by the development of a platform through which young adults can be invited to participate in opportunities that would increase their professional network, keep their skills current, and get to participate in community initiatives that are working towards change. There is not enough visibility of opportunities for young adults that are available on a single platform, and there is not enough support offered to them through mentorship and leadership programming. St. CatharinesL2N34512Because most of new comers have challenges to adapting in the community For example we could use E-mail instead of mail This will save money and time WellandL3C35421It all starts with employment. The rest starts falling into place. WellandL3C13245 WellandL3B43215Other cities have apps or real time bus/streetcar/subway information. Being able to know exactly when the bus is coming or when you'll be at your location is important. Moreover, being able to pay using your phone instead of having to buy token or have exact change saves money (wages/tokens) and is more convenient. WellandL3C51423 ThoroldL2V21354It provides a broad platform that could potentially encompass many of the other areas described above. Interconnectivity. Currently there is an us and them mentality with our community populations. This isn't isolated to the immediate community where I reside, I would say it is across most of Niagara. In order to enhance efficiencies and community resiliency we need to function together, collaboratively. Everyone needs to have the opportunity to engage, have ease of access to information, and a voice via community platforms. West LincolnL0R53421 West LincolnL0R41235With community belonging a lot of the others will fall into placeI think housing. These developers are cramming in too many houses that are to attract empty nesters and retired people and I want them to attract families. Maybe we could get our High School back and a community without children is not a community West LincolnL0R32154There is no way to get out of West Lincoln to the local hospitals.....Dunnville or Grimsby. Sidewalks are not where they are needed or maintained for walkers with disabilities. Snow removal just left goat paths. Only one grocery store here, would like to be able to get to others.High school students are being bused miles out of town and they're spending habits are being taken out of town. West LincolnL0R51243 Niagara FallsL2H54231Traffic is always backed up everywhere. Zero planning at all.No plan. WellandL3B12345 Niagara FallsL2G51324So many of Niagara's natural areas are being destroyed, mostly to build subdivisions that could be built elsewhere.We need to have public transit run more frequently. Perhaps let people use private cars. Perhaps the transit companies could run some smaller vehicles. St. CatharinesL2R231 Niagara FallsL2E4123Pollution of our waters Chippawa Wellend Niagara river Pollution smell Niagara FallsL2E32451We have a very poor culture for employment due to the overbalance of the tourist industry. Many people are unemployed here and there seem to be no hope of jobs for their particular skills.Overhead hydro should be below the street. Policing would help safety. Bylaws enforced would help standards. PelhamL0S51423Protecting natural heritage features and their connectivity is #1, as they provide and sustain our life. Nature is essential for our existence and well being. Maintaining healthy natural areas support people's physical and mental health. Housing and transportation can be planned for wisely in areas not impacting current natural woodlands and wetlands.Loss of natural habitat and degradation of watercourses. Technology can be part of the solution in supporting natural area inventories, and accurate mapping, including groundwater resource mapping. Niagara FallsL2J54312We have a major affordable housing issue in Niagara Falls Niagara FallsL2G34152With economic prosperty everything else falls into place Communication of changes developments events social issues Niagara FallsL2J1Because if you don't have safety and security in your city. What good does everything else do.Homelessness needs to be addressed. Not sure technology will be of value here. It could be used to get people together to help the less fortunate in our community. Niagara FallsL2E23514I have serious concerns about the areas in Niagara Falls slated for development, specifically River Road and Thundering Waters Forest. I don't believe the city has demonstrated a commitment to smart growth when sprawling developments have been allowed to take over at every corner of the city and the green spaces and heritage areas that make our city desirable are on the chopping block for developers intent on exploiting such spaces. It is out of control and quite frightening when designated wetlands are considered insignificant by our mayor.Poverty in becoming a serious problem in Niagara Falls and I'm not sure that technology plays a part in solving that problem unless there is an app for instilling compassion and empathy, and as mentioned above, my concerns about irresponsible development are contributing to the problem, (e.g. driving up house prices and creating an affordable housing crisis) Niagara FallsL2E53412Every human being deserves a safe, affordable place to sleep. The region is looking at the mixed income neighbourhood policy & I think they should get it done asap.I hate the way the city is willing to bulldoze grown trees & allows developers to do the same without any accountability. The Tree O Code program would help all of us with our canopy Niagara FallsL2J54312There is a huge need for affordable housing in Niagara. Rents are crazy and most people are just one paycheque away from being homeless. We also need a more permanent solution to homelessness. Niagara FallsL2E314Economy is the most important Jobs!!!! All are part time poo ass jobs Niagara FallsL2G52341Better public transportation could improve quality of life, job opportunities, connectivity and community belonging. Less cars on the roads would help the environment (pollution and noise). More defined crosswalks are necessary to cross roads safely. We focus far more one tourists needs, perhaps they can subsidize our needs.I don't believe that we function as neighborhood groups or as a small city community. We are only a destination. We don't promote community loyalty, we are quite content with our money being funneled into the USA. Technology might educate younger adults (25-45yr) to see the harm they are doing by going outside the community for their needs. The city has to seriously help facilitate those needs. Niagara FallsL2G54312Without safe air and water the rest of the points are useless. Needs over wants.The tourism sector although important, has seemingly taken all of the focus and resources of the city. Leaving the locals unsupported and used as cheap labour for the industry. There is a tourist tax charged at every establishment and there is no accountability over where the funds are used. There should be a portion of that money which goes to the citizens and the wider city to make it liveable year round. This would help pay for low income housing and other improvements. West LincolnL0R34521Because unless residents can find good jobs, they won't be able to afford a good life.our Our little village downtown is in dire need of a facelift. It could be quite charming, but right now it looks like no one cares. WellandL3C4152Innovation is vital to Economic development, it also plays a key role in reducing poverty, creating employment, and fostering entrepreneurship.Niagara's Smart Cities Plan should include a "Shared Niagara" Portal" similar to ones already developed. The Shared economy is rapidly growing and transforming citizens lives. This portal can assist cities in leveraging the use of municipal goods, spaces, and civic assets, as well developing and sharing the talents and skills of residents. In addition to providing an economic benefit, it an also have an enormous impact on environmental issues, and connectivity throughout the region. Niagara FallsL2G1543 Niagara FallsL2E54213