March 5, 2026

Mayor Wayne Redekop 

There is an adage that a week in politics can seem like a year.  I have rarely experienced that phenomenon, but this past week qualifies.

When I submitted my last article, which referenced potential forced amalgamation of municipalities in Niagara, little did I know that the day after that article was published I (along with all 12 mayors in Niagara) would receive a letter from the recently appointed Regional Chair outlining his belief that there is an urgent need for governance changes in Niagara, including the possibility of reorganization of local government into one or four cities.  A few days before that, he had arranged to appear at Town Council the following Monday as a delegate to “update” us on activities at the Region.

Strangely, the letter requiring “urgent” action by mayors and a response within 12 days was dated two weeks before it was sent by email to the mayors.  The letter, and one directed to the Mininster of Municipal Affairs and Housing, asserted that taxes were out of control, infrastructure costs had ballooned and that there are too many politicians in Niagara.  This is the mantra that we have now heard since the election of the current Premier, who has twice looked into governance in Niagara – and retreated from any changes.  

At the Council meeting on February 23, 2026, Regional Chair Gale presented no data, no business case and no basis for advocating for the changes he is “deeply contemplating”.  He acknowledged that his was a mission without prior discussion with the Premier or the Minister, yet contradicted that at the Regional Council meeting held 3 days later when he stated that he was “instructed by the Province” to send the letters to the mayors.  The lack of transparency and the failure to justify his actions at our Council meeting are startling.  Members of Town Council probed the Chair’s proposals in a courteous, professional and insightful fashion.  To use another analogy, it was established that the emperor has no clothes.

The most troubling and aggravating aspects of the Chair’s venture can be summarized as follows:

1. The increase in Regional taxes over the past two years has been driven by the large increases in the police budget.  Of the 6.3% increase this year in the Regional budget, 4.4% (two-thirds) is as a result of the 11.1% police budget increase.  Absent police costs, the Region’s budget increased less than the rate of inflation. The police budget is projected to increase by 14.8% and 10.8% for the next two years. The Chair acknowledged that municipal restructuring will not modify or lessen police needs or budget increases.
2. The Region has an estimated $2.7 billion infrastructure gap – the amount of money required to maintain for the long-term all Regional assets versus the amount of money available to meet those needs.  The figure is subject to debate.  However, virtually every municipal and regional government in Ontario has an infrastructure gap, including the 12 area municipalities in Niagara.  Fort Erie is undoubtedly in the best position because of the dedicated funds allocated to infrastructural renewal starting nearly 15 years ago.  Amalgamation of municipalities will not relieve taxpayers of this financial burden, but Provincial assistance will.
3. Those supporting amalgamations point to the 126 regional and municipal politicians in Niagara.  They like to compare that to the 124 members of provincial parliament and the 16 City of Hamilton Council.  Hamilton actually pays more than a million dollars than all of Niagara for its council representatives, which includes full-time pay, an office and staff, none of which is available to Niagara’s part-time politicians, with the exception of the mayors.  Fewer politicians means less access by the public to elected representatives. 

Fort Erie’s position on governance is simple.  We believe that government should be efficient, effective and meet the needs of our residents and businesses.  How it operates needs to be continuously reviewed.  We do not support forced amalgamations.  If there are to be fewer municipalities in Niagara in the future, Fort Erie is capable fiscally and administratively to stand on its own.