Niagara Region Amalgamations

[Northern Light]

It appears the province is set to move in the next few weeks to consolidate Niagara Region in some measure.

The provincially appointed Regional Chair has sent letters to the local mayors asking whether they support (prefer) full amalgamation (single-tier), or a 4-city- model that would retain the region as well.

Based on assorted media and personal sense.....it appears the province is leaning towards the 4-city model.

New Niagara Falls (NF, Fort Erie and NOTL)

New St. Kitts (unchanged)

New Welland (Welland, Pt. Colborne and Thorold)

New??? (All the rural areas, Pelham, West Lincoln etc.)

Some media:

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/niagara-politicians-debate-amalgamation-ahead-of-legislatures-return-11920753

Gale pushes for fewer politicians, potential amalgamation

Regional Chair Bob Gale is advocating for reducing the number of municipal politicians and possibly amalgamating local municipalities throughout Niagara Region as a means of reducing costs, enhancing governance and improving efficiency. Gale sent letters to local mayors and the Ontario Minister...

niagaraindependent.ca

I broadly favour this, though I am always deeply suspicious of anything this provincial government gets up to by way of meddling, one is always stuck wondering about alterior motives.

I must admit, I always though Thorold would be folded into St. Kitts.

 

[ShonTron]

I'm not in favour of amalgamations for the sake of amalgamation. What is the benefit of Fort Erie joining Niagara Falls? They are geographically and culturally distant.

Also, you're going to anger a lot of blue-voting electors by merging NOTL with NF. Also, why should Thorold merge with Welland? It'd be much smarter to split Thorold up into St. Catharines (the continuous urban area between Beaverdams and the lakes and Town Line & St. David's), Niagara Falls (everything east of the canal) and Pelham/Welland. If amalgamation is absolutely necessary, we should be smart and redraw boundaries, rather than just combining more of them together.

We really should be having open, good-faith, and thoughtful discussion on how we want our municipalities to look like and how they should function. Instead, we get whatever Mike Harris or Doug Ford dream up.