Niagara Falls mayor talks mask mandates, border restrictions, hospitality sector, Niagara tourism

Time to check in with Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati to see how the city is doing.

Yesterday, mask mandates were lifted in the province and in Niagara Falls, there was a vote on mask mandates in the region. The result is masks are no longer required.

Diodati says the city is still stressing that people respect other’s personal choices.

“Some people are still struggling and trying to work their way out of this and some people have vulnerable people at home or maybe they are immunocompromised,” said Diodati. “I know for myself, I’m done with my mask and I’m happy to take mine off. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do with vaccines and everything else and I’m looking forward to enjoying life the way we used to.”

Canada is counting down the days to the April 1st lifting of restriction at the border. Diodati says that once it opens, he thinks it will be a slow burn for people heading to the border.

“By and large, we know it’s going to be a gradual thing, just like the masks,” said Diodati. “People need to ease into it like a hot bath and they need to get into it, get comfortable. Once they have done it a couple of times, I think it will become more habitual.”

Diodati says people are starting to come back to work, but now it is a battle of negotiation. He says employees are seeking more money and more options.

“People are slowly coming back to hospitality, but some businesses are not open seven days because they don’t have enough staff,” said Diodati. “[Even at the Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto] you can see, they are struggling with employees. So, they’re coming back gradually, but I will tell you, Niagara Falls has been a buzz the last few weekends between Valentine’s Day, Family Day weekend and then Spring Break.”

Diodati says this past week for Spring Break, Niagara Falls did better than 2019 before the pandemic for tourism.