Breaking News: Province names Welland’s Frank Campion as Niagara regional chair

The Ontario government has selected outgoing Welland mayor Frank Campion as Niagara’s next regional chair, putting him at the head of a smaller council made up of the region’s 12 local mayors.

Campion is wrapping up 12 years as Welland’s mayor. He did not seek a fourth term and confirmed in August that he had applied for the regional chair’s job. Pat Chiocchio, who won Welland’s mayoral race on Oct. 26, takes office Nov. 15 and will represent the city at the regional table.

The appointment comes as Niagara prepares for a major change in how it is governed. Under Ontario’s Better Regional Governance Act, the province eliminated 19 directly elected regional councillor positions. Starting Nov. 15, the 12 mayors and the provincially appointed chair will make up the new council.

Campion will also take on expanded authority under what the province calls “strong chair” powers. He will propose the Region’s annual budget, which is subject to council approval, and have authority over certain senior staffing decisions. He can also veto bylaws he believes conflict with provincial priorities and propose bylaws that advance those priorities with the support of as few as one-third of council members.

The chair’s position has been filled on a rotating basis since March, when Bob Gale resigned. Ontario appointed Gale in December following the death of longtime regional chair Jim Bradley.

The new council will oversee the same regional services, including garbage collection, regional roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, and public health. The governance changes also leave Niagara’s 12 local municipalities in place.

This is a developing story. Follow for updates as they happen.