St. Catharines Downtown Association

The mayor spoke of local successes in building emerging technologies like nGen, the Niagara Interactive Media Generator, and the city's Enterprise Centre.

Renewed hope in the downtown was another theme he stressed.

A convergence of projects like a promised Brock arts school and centre for performing arts, a replaced Carlisle Street parking garage and two-way traffic conversion bear real promise.

The expansion of GO Transit and efforts to establish a regional transportation network are more upbeat signs, McMullan said.

"Despite the recent challenges surrounding this (regional transit) issue, I remain committed to it and believe it will happen," he said.

Dominating the good news is a massive amount of local investment of almost $1 billion from 2009 to 2010, he said. That is helping to create a "new optimism and excitement among our citizens."

McMullan defended the spending of taxpayer money on infrastructure projects. The spending isn't frivolous, he maintained.

"These are projects that will make St. Catharines a place where people want to live, work and play."

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