Niagara Regional Council met for a special session to address the issue of amalgamation late last week, after Regional Chair Bob Gale put the issue firmly on the agenda.
Gale continues to insist that amalgamation is necessary, citing massive tax increases in recent years and arguing that too many politicians has led to inefficiencies and government waste.
But Gale faced significant pushback from Councillors, many of whom come from the smaller lower-tier municipalities worried about a loss of local autonomy.
Premier Doug Ford has voiced his support for amalgamation but has also said that he would need the support of a majority of local mayors or a large majority of local residents to move ahead with Gale’s proposals.
Regional Council met to discuss the issue of amalgamation for nearly three hours, with Councillors ultimately voting to stop Gale from making any further efforts toward pursuing amalgamation. Instead, Councillors voted for a governance review to try to identify further efficiencies without going via the amalgamation route.
Gale began the meeting with remarks in favour of amalgamation, but Councillor Wayne Redekop (Fort Erie) made a point of order to rule Gale’s remarks as out of order, arguing that they were too opinionated for a chair’s opening remarks. Councillors voted in favour of Redekop’s motion, cutting short Gale’s remarks.
Councillor Pat Chiocchio (Welland) was the first to speak after Gale’s comments were cut short, arguing that the whole manner in which Gale has proceeded making his case for amalgamation has been “a bit of a gong show.”
Chiocchio went on to argue that before any kind of amalgamation is considered, Councillors need to see facts presented from Gale. To date, Chiocchio argued that none have been presented, other than Gale arguing about general inefficiencies and high taxes. He also argued that the public needs to be part of the conversation before any type of amalgamation push moves forward.
Many others echoed Chiocchio, arguing that much more evidence and data is needed before the issue of amalgamation be even considered.
Councillor Laura Ip (St. Catharines) spoke second, arguing that she put forward a motion six years ago calling for an examination of regional governance, but noted that the motion was defeated. She passionately argued against amalgamation, citing evidence that amalgamation in other areas has not, in fact, reduced costs.
Councillor Marvin Junkin (Pelham) argued that those who live in rural areas don’t want to be governed by those who primary live in urban areas. He also argued that if amalgamation is to be a part of Niagara’s future, “it should only involve willing parties.”
Councillor Andrea Kaiser (Niagara-on-the-Lake) made the case that much of the recent tax increases have been caused by increases to the police budget, something that would not change should amalgamation move forward.
While some mayors of bigger municipalities in Niagara Region, such as Jim Diodati in Niagara Falls and Mat Siscoe in St. Catharines, have spoken in favour of amalgamation in theory, many smaller town mayors, such as Junkin, have come out decisively against it.
Given Council’s vote, it appears as though Gale’s amalgamation push may have been put on ice, at least for the time being.
Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He previously served as the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
