News about the Niagara Parks Commission,
Maid of the Mist, and Niagara Falls State Park

The Niagara Parks Commission has been in the news in Niagara Falls.  An ethics investigation has been conducted.

Recent newspaper articles and related material about The Niagara Parks Commission, Maid of the Mist, New York State Parks, and the James V. Glynn Family:

IN WAKE OF GLYNN SCANDAL, AMERICAN GLYNN TRIES TO SNATCH CANADA'S MAID OF THE MIST NAME -- December 21, 2009

Curtain of secrecy lifting to reveal secrets inside Niagara Parks Commission --- December 21, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission makes meetings public -- December 18, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission goes public -- December 18, 2009

NPC war of words escalates -- December 13, 2009

NPC dustup! -- December 11, 2009

Jim Williams sharply critical of Tourism Minister Monique Smith -- December 11, 2009

Niagara Parks chairman steps down -- December 11, 2009

Niagara czar quits after boat furor -- December 11, 2009

Parks chairman resigns -- December 11, 2009

Jim Williams Resignation letter hints at dispute with tourism minister -- December 10, 2009

RESIGNATION OF JIM WILLIAMS. CHAIRMAN OF NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION -- December 10, 2009

Minister Smith Accepts Resignation Of Niagara Parks Commission Chair -- December 10, 2009

Williams resigns as NPC chair -- December 10, 2009

NEW YORK OFFICIALS CONFIRM GLYNN'S CONTRACT HEADED FOR COMPETITIVE BID: Governor livid over Maid of the Mist monopoly in New York -- December 7, 2009

Directors of Niagara Parks reappointed despite calls for board overhaul -- December 4, 2009

McGuinty Liberals must stop playing politics with the Niagara Parks Commission: OPSEU -- December 3, 2009

Tourism minister must show leadership -- December 3, 2009

GLYNN'S HOUSE OF CARDS COLLAPSES WITH CANADIAN REPORT, U.S. LAWSUIT -- November 30, 2009

Maid of the Mist under siege: William M. Windsor files New York Lawsuit -- November 26, 2009

PRESERVE OUR PARKS ENDORSES "MUCH-NEEDED REFORM of NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION -- NOVEMBER 24, 2009

The gig may be up for Niagara Parks commissioners' cosy existence -- November 24, 2009

Probes uncover ethical breaches at Niagara Parks Commission  -- November 20, 2009

$57 Million Lawsuit filed against State of NY & Maid of the Mist -- November 20, 2009

MAID OF THE MIST LEASE ORDERED REOPENED: Ontario calls for end of monopoly on dubious Glynn lease -- November 2, 2009

CANADA TORPEDOES GLYNN -- November 2, 2009

FRANCINE FLAILS AGAIN -- November 2, 2009

Niagara Parks Considers a Rival Line of Boats in 1901 -- November 1, 2009

Tendering of Previous Leases at the Niagara Parks -- November 1, 2009

PARLATO, NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER HELP UNDUE MAID OF MIST SWEETHEART DEAL -- October 31, 2009

Casino Niagara lease should be opened up, too, Hudak says -- October 30, 2009

Jim Williams on CKTB -- October 30, 2009

Globe & Mail:  Province orders Maid of the Mist lease re-opened -- October 28, 2009

A message from Bob Gale, October 28, 2009, 5:23 pm

Province pulls plug on Maid of the Mist lease -- October 28, 2009

Statement by the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company -- October 28, 2009

The Niagara Parks Commission is Ordered to Tender Maid of the Mist Lease for Bids!!!!

Mud in the Mist -- October 21, 2009

AMID HALF TRUTHS AND BALD LIES, IT'S UP TO PARLIAMENT -- October 12, 2009

eHealth virus touches Smith -- October 2, 2009

Tories call for Maids lease to be tendered -- October 7, 2009

Tories raise questions about Maid of the Mist deal -- October 6, 2009

Comments from Parliament -- October 5, 2009

Maid of the Mist lease questioned -- October 5, 2009

Tories raise questions about Maid of the Mist deal -- October 5, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission signs off on lease, awaits final approval from Ontario government -- September 28, 2009

Letter to Premier McGuinty from Preserve Our Parks -- September 23, 2009

Glynn's Tower is for the Birds -- September 15, 2009

Bring the Niagara Parks Commission into government: OPSEU -- September 14, 2009

Ontario orders review of Maid of the Mist lease -- September 3, 2009

'Privacy' concerns prevent release of full parks reports, tourism minister says -- September 3, 2009

Cloud of uncertainty to clear up for Maid of the Mist -- September 3, 2009

Details of parks commission reports withheld by Tourism Ministry -- September 3, 2009

Review ordered of untendered Maid of the Mist deal -- September 2, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission to review lease for Maid of the Mist  -- September 2, 2009

Mist clearing over attraction lease deal  -- September 1, 2009

'Significant' NPC recommendations coming, Craitor says -- September 1, 2009

Three Parks posts refilled -but no word on Gale's spot -- August 5, 2009

Famed Park run solely for the benefit of One Man -- July 28, 2009

Council calls on province to revamp parks commission representation -- July 10, 2009

MAID OF THE MIST LEASE AWAITS RENT REDUCTION -- June 29, 2009

Secret Canadian Glynn Lease remains Unsigned -- June 16, 2009

INJUSTICE AND GLYNN'S NEW YORK LEASE -- May 4, 2009

MAID OF THE MIST: Dispute to set sail again -- May 3, 2009

Maid of the Mist Accused of Hundreds of Counts of Perjury -- April 27, 2009

With layoffs and budget shortfalls, why did they lower Glynn's rent? -- April 21, 2009

MAID OF THE MIST: Sailing through controversy -- April 18, 2009

CUOMO NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE MAID OF THE MIST -- April 6, 2009

GLYNN'S NEW YORK LEASE HAS STATE ACTUALLY PAYING HIM TO RUN BOATS -- April 6, 2009

Transparency Bill re-introduced by Craitor -- April 3, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission Salary Disclosure 2009 (Disclosure for 2008) -- April 2, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission must delay million-dollar payment to city hall -- April 2, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission Slashes Hours of Low Income Earners -- April 3, 2009

At Niagara Falls, Controversy Rises Over a Tour Company’s Monopoly -- New York Times -- April 3, 2009

PROVINCIAL INVESTIGATION: Accountability examined -- March 28, 2009

Dispute arises over contract for Niagara tour boats -- The New York Times -- March 27, 2009

Bill 159 -- MPP Kim Craitor's Transparency Bill -- March 25, 2009

Alcatraz Media and William M. Windsor Take Legal Action in Attempt to Obtain Billion Dollar Contract for Boat Rides under Niagara Falls -- March 24, 2009

Craitor takes second swing at transparency bill  -- March 24, 2009

Alcatraz Media and William M. Windsor Take Legal Action -- March 24, 2009

CANADIAN TROUBLES COULD HURT MAID OF THE MIST  STANDING ON U.S. SIDE, WINDSOR SAYS: New York contract hinges on agreement with Canada -- March 23, 2009

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DEMANDING OPEN BID ON MAID OF THE MIST LEASE -- March 23, 2009

MPP Kim Craitor: Parks commission needs direction for lease review -- March 17, 2009

Globe and Mail Forensic Accountant says The Niagara Parks Commission will earn less on new Maid Lease -- March 17, 2009

Windsor asks Minister of Tourism to announce Boat Service Tender -- March 17, 2009

MPP Tim Hudak called on the Minister of Tourism to ensure a request for proposals is sent out for a new contract for boat ride attractions at Niagara Falls -- March 17, 2009

Bill Windsor asks Minister of Tourism to make a statement announcing Tender for Bids on Niagara Falls Boat Service -- March 17, 2009: 

Letter to Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Monique Smith

Review of Proposed Maid of the Mist Lease

NPC Variable Commission Rate Handout

Proposal Packages presented to The Niagara Parks Commissioners

Maid of Mist controversy stirs probe of agencies -- March 17, 2009

Responses to integrity commissioner exercises in political spin -- March 17, 2009

Ontario Integrity Commissioner Clears Parks Commission -- March 17, 2009

Niagara Parks chair cleared of "gross misconduct"-- March 17, 2009

Does it call for lease to be reopened? -- March 17, 2009

Tourism Ministry orders review of Niagara Parks -- March 16, 2009

Globe and Mail Forensic Accountant says The Niagara Parks Commission will be "worse off under the new lease agreement" -- March 16, 2009

Government Must Get House in Order at Niagara Parks Commission -- March 16, 2009

SECRET MAID OF THE MIST LEASE RENT GOES DOWN, NOT UP! --  Exposed by Niagara Falls Reporter -- March 16, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission Variable Lease Rate Analysis Hand-Out given to The Niagara Parks Commissioners to justify the financial terms of the lease

Report to The Niagara Parks Commissioners about Maid of the Mist Lease by John  Kernahan, General Manager

Minutes of Niagara Parks Commission Meeting to discuss New Maid of the Mist Lease

Integrity Commission Report is Released -- March 16, 2009

http://integrity.oico.on.ca/dow/DOWweb.nsf/htmlDocs/home/$FILE/Review_of_Government_Response.pdf?OpenElement

http://integrity.oico.on.ca/dow/DOWweb.nsf/htmlDocs/home/$FILE/News_Release.pdf?OpenElement

http://integrity.oico.on.ca/dow/DOWweb.nsf/htmlDocs/home/$FILE/Backgrounder.pdf?OpenElement

Ontario Responds To Integrity Commissioner's Report -- March 16, 2009

Niagara chair cleared of Gross Misconduct in Maid of Mist deal -- March 16, 2009

Chairman says Maids report will vindicate NPC -- March 13, 2009

Integrity commission needs to clear the air -- March 13, 2009

Integrity commission report imminent, sources say -- March 13, 2009

Maid of the Mist attempts to defend New York Legal Challenge filed to void lease with New York State -- March 13, 2009

Proposed Weir Winery questioned in another Suspect Niagara Parks Commission Private Deal -- March 12, 2009

Union wants province takeover of The Niagara Parks Commission --  March 12, 2009

Preserve Our Parks issues a Position Statement calling for a Competitive Bidding Process for Niagara Parks -- March 12, 2009

Weir's winery plans with The Niagara Parks Commission not quite par for the course -- March 12, 2009

Niagara Parks Commission, already under fire for Maid of the Mist operations, criticized for business talks with pro-golfer -- March 12, 2009

The Ontario Government Must Take Over Management of Niagara Parks, Says Union of the Employees of The Niagara Parks Commission -- March 11, 2009

Maid of the Mist's Attorney responds to William M. Windsor's Legal Action in New York -- March 11, 2009

Windsor releases some Details of his Bid Proposal -- March 10, 2009

Financial Report for The Niagara Parks Commission: $4,300,000 Loss in 2008 -- March 10, 2009

Give Gale another turn, councillors say -- March 10, 2009

Maid of the Mist enters troubled waters -- Globe & Mail National News -- March 9, 2009 (This article appeared on front pages in newspapers all across Canada.)

MAID OF THE MIST COMES UP WITH NEW EXCUSE; DUTIFUL CUB REPORTER WRITES WHAT HE'S TOLD -- March 9, 2009

Maid of the Mist in a legal fog -- Niagara Parks failed to call for tenders -- March 9, 2009

False Information Published by Niagara Falls Review -- March 6, 2009

Maid of the Mist Lease should be Overturned: court document -- March 6, 2009

Windsor says Maid of the Mist's Disruption Claims are FALSE and he challenges Maid of the Mist to ask The Niagara Parks Commission and the State of New York to issue a Tender for Bids

Maid of the Mist attempts to claim that a Five-year Disruption Inevitable if Newcomer took over Boat Service -- March 5, 2009

Legal Action filed demanding that New York State Parks void the New York Maid of the Mist Lease -- March 4, 2009

Gale figures he's finished on Niagara Parks Commission -- March 3, 2009

LAWSUIT SHEDS LIGHT ON SECRETIVE NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION: Glynn lease may be stymied by Ontario Superior Court -- March 2, 2009

William M. Windsor files Lawsuit against Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company Limited and The Niagara Parks Commission -- Affidavit of William M. Windsor -- Affidavit of Bob Gale -- February 27, 2009

Businessman takes Niagara Parks Commission to Court over Maid of the Mist Lease - Wants Court to force 'open and fair' Bidding Process -- February 27, 2009.

Niagara Parks Commission Sued to void $500 Million Lease -- February 27, 2009

Alcatraz Media, Inc. and William M. Windsor File Ethics Complaint Against Niagara Parks Commission in Maid of the Mist Scandal -- February 17, 2009

Letter from William M. Windsor's Attorney announcing Lawsuit sent to The Honourable Monique Smith, Minister of Tourism -- February 13, 2009

Gale files Second Complaint against Niagara Parks Commission Chairman, Jim Williams

Punks Pilfering Papers -- February 23, 2009

Gale deserves another turn on the Parks Commission  -- February 13, 2009

Letter to the Integrity Commissioner, Lynn Morrison -- February 13, 2009

OPSEU SEFPO Local 217 - Union of the Employees of the National Parks Commission -- web site has numerous stories about the Maid of the Mist lease

Growing Chorus of Critics Demand: Send Maid of the Mist Lease Back for Competitive Bidding -- February 10, 2009

Gale says he would rejoin Parks Board -- February 8, 2009

McGuinty's Maid Men -- February 7, 2009

Preserve Our Parks Letter to Minister of Tourism Monique Smith -- February 5, 2009

Canadian Integrity Commission Investigation Intensifies: Details of Secretive Maid of the Mist Leases Emerging - February 3, 2009

Glynns May Lose Canadian Maid of the Mist Lease: Ontario Integrity Commission report due soon -- January 27, 2009

Letter from Richard Kennedy, Chief Internal Auditor in the Ontario Ministry of Finance -- January 27, 2009

NTCC Needs to be Put to Bed -- January 13, 2009

Who's Running City Government? Just ask M&T Bank's Bob Wilmers -- December 23, 2008

Glynns Destroy Koshian Mansion in Wanton Act of Municipal Vandalism -- December 16, 2008

Letter from the Minister of Tourism, Monique Smith -- December 16, 2008

Del Monte Selling Heart of Niagara Falls -- December 9, 2008

Coincidences, or Secret Planning between Dyster and Developer Glynn? -- December 2, 2008

Results of NPC probe should be public, Gale says -- December 2008

A Tale of Two Developers and Two Mayors -- November 18, 2008

Letter from Premier Dalton McGuinty -- November 17, 2008

Who's Funding Our City Government? -- November 11, 2008

Preserve Our Parks Letter to Minister of Tourism Monique Smith -- October 30, 2008

Time for Headlines -- October 14, 2008

Preserve Our Parks Letter to Minister of Tourism Monique Smith -- October 2, 2008

Investigation into Parks Complaint Ongoing -- September 19, 2008

Integrity Commissioner investigating Niagara Parks Commission -- September 3, 2008

City Council says Change Needed at Niagara Parks Commission -- July 25, 2008

Dyster Moves Quickly -- July 22, 2008

Preserve Our Parks Letter to Premier McGuinty -- July 2008

Maid of the Mist Lease Deal Questioned -- July 22, 2008

City says Province should enforce Transparency at Niagara Parks Commission -- July 22, 2008

Controversy Swirls in Maid of the Mist's Wake -- July 21, 2008

Maid of the Mist Lease Deal Questioned -- July 21, 2008

Ripley’s wants chance at Maid of the Mist Lease with The Niagara Parks Commission-- July 22, 2008

Senecas eyeing Maid of the Mist takeover as logical next step here: no-bid state contract has rested with James Glynn since 1971 -- July 1, 2008

Protect Our Parks Web Site