He attempted to ban lap dancing in the city, and strongly opposed a 1995 court decision which legalized the practice (Winnipeg Free Press, 9 December 1995).
(It may be noted that Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, two of Canada's most notorious killers, are former residents of St. Catharines.
Unwin also became chairman for the Ontario urban mayors caucus in 1997, during negotiations with the provincial government of Mike Harris on the cost of service downloads.
He criticized Harris for refusing to meet with them directly (Hamilton Spectator, 18 July 1997), and claimed that cities were not given enough information to plan their budgets for the following year (Globe and Mail, 8 October 1997).
He endorsed Tim Rigby's successful campaign to succeed him as mayor.