I have been asked about my thoughts on Marineland in general, the leases provided from the city and casual/seasonal employment: I know that Marineland is a concern for many people so I tried to educate myself by talking to former employees, with the Humane Society, marine specialists, reading articles, watching Blackfish, contacting the City regarding the leases and meeting with John Holer. Since what Marineland does is legal and deemed humane by the standards of the current animal control authorities, for those who oppose animal captivity for entertainment, action can include encouraging economic boycott, lobbying law makers to make it illegal and to attend protest rallies. As a city councillor, my political view is it would be my duty to represent everyone in the community and uphold their legal rights as they stand now. Personally, abuse of animals troubles me. I believe that society has progressed from that type of entertainment and I would like to see Marineland progress to a park with rides, etc and phase out the marine animals. Favoritism for one business or group over another for what ever reason is not something I feel is appropriate. When public safety is claimed to be the reason for changes like the leases that are mentioned, I do agree with it. However, it is disheartening to see that they actually are causing some public safety challenges themselves and taking away the rights of others. All this being said, Marineland is one of our tourist attractions that bring and keep people here in Niagara Falls. They also employ many people throughout the year. We do need to find a way for those jobs and the economic activity to not be lost. I am a strong supporter of the ‘living wage’ movement. In cities across Canada and around the world there is a movement to encourage employers to pay a ‘living wage’. A living wage reflects what earners in a family need to bring home based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. This is a voluntary program where employers benefit by reduced absenteeism, decreased turnover rates, lower recruitment and training costs, increased morale, productivity and loyalty and they are officially recognized in the community as a responsible employer. Employees benefit by being paid fair compensation for their work, avoiding poverty and having a better quality of life, improved health and increased opportunities for education/skills training. This is a practical initiative that is finding success in many countries and I would like to work towards something like this in Niagara Falls. Yes, it may be more difficult for seasonal jobs, but I would like to see a movement towards it. I am open to discussions on your views and would be more than happy to hear them, on the topic of Marineland or any other issue. #loriforcouncil Lori Lococo for Niagara Falls City Council
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 18:05:55 +0000
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