Niagara Region councilors discuss future amid amalgamation proposal

Niagara Region’s councilors are divided over a recent amalgamation proposal, meeting Thursday to discuss the future of the region’s structure.

The region’s chair, Bob Gale, sent a letter to the province recently asking for municipal governance changes that could include amalgamating the 12 cities and towns in the region into four.

At that special meeting this afternoon, councilors were able to give feedback to Gale about his letter, which mainly blames high costs on the current governance structure.

Many were passionate in their opposition of amalgamation, saying there wasn’t enough consultation before the letter was sent.

“Amalgamation can improve coordination but it does not automatically reduce costs,” said Leanna Villella, Welland regional councilor.

Regional councilors sounded off to Gale this afternoon as he appears to stand firmly behind his opinion that amalgamation and a governance review could help solve high costs in the region.

“I think we all at least agree that things are not working as efficiently as possible, and it’s unsustainable and unfair to be bringing 25 per cent tax increases over four years — and a $2.7 billion backlog in infrastructure on the backs of the hardworking people of Niagara,” said Gale.

The mayors of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines have gone on record with CHCH News in support of amalgamation.

The mayor of Welland is open to the idea, while the lord mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the mayors of Fort Erie, West Lincoln and Port Colborne are all against the idea.

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“I’ve been staunch on this from day one, I am not for amalgamation. I do believe there needs to be a governance review. You have eliminated good access to local representatives of the public where they see them all the time, whether it’s the grocery store, the hockey rink, the library, downtown, wherever you are, you take all that away if you go to a one or four city model,” said Bill Steele, Port Colborne mayor.

Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he is leaving amalgamation of the regions, cities and towns up to the local mayors.

“I think the premier said it perfectly, I wanna hear from the mayors who represent the 12 municipalities and I wanna hear from the public,” said Steele.

Some residents in Grimsby say they don’t want smaller cities and towns to lose their identities in amalgamation.

“I’ve seen what happened with Hamilton when the other surrounding suburb areas were asked to join, their taxes went up. They became part of Hamilton but the services didn’t get any better,” said a Grimsby resident.

“Part of the reason people live in communities like Grimsby or Lincoln is because it is their own community. They can make decisions about what happens in their own backyards. And if it’s centralized, look at what happened to Dundas and Ancaster and the communities there. They have no say on what’s going on and it’s been an uphill battle for them, and it would just be worse for us,” said another Grimsby resident.

A State of the Region event is happening tomorrow, where Gale will have a keynote address.

Many of the region’s mayors are expected to be there. CHCH News will also attend and bring you the latest.

WATCH MORE: Ford leaves amalgamation of Niagara region cities, towns up to local mayors