FEO Staff
A letter from Bob Gale, the current Regional Chair of Niagara Region, appointed by the Province of Ontario on December 18, 2025, has ignited one of the most contentious governance conversations Niagara has seen in a long time.
On February 19, Gale wrote to Niagara’s 12 mayors and to Rob Flack, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, self-identifying major flaws in the existing governance structure of Niagara Region, calling for major reform such as a reduction in the number of municipal Councillors and a municipal restructuring in the Region, including potential amalgamations into a 4-city or 1-city model. In the letters, Gale describes the existing structure as fragmented, outdated, and unwieldy, resulting in unsustainable tax increases for residents that threaten the loss of jobs and investment, delayed decision making and lack of municipal coordination on priorities such as transit, housing service delivery and economic development.
Gale concludes that a better structure would allow for more fluidity to meet provincial priorities, such as bringing housing, transit and tourism more cohesively to Niagara instead of at a standstill due to fragmented decision-making and competing local priorities. Niagara Region currently operates as a two-tier government system, with the Regional Municipality of Niagara (upper-tier) and 12 local municipalities (lower-tier).
As it stands, there are currently 126 elected officials at the municipal level in Niagara, more than the 124 MPPs in the entire provincial legislature, a number Gale and others have repeatedly compared. During a press conference while visiting Niagara Falls, Premier Doug Ford responded to the questions about the amalgamation, making his stance for serious change clear through echoing Gale’s concerns, and he will analyze the proposal, but the change has to be led by Niagara. When asked if the provincial government tasked Gale with the amalgamation conversation, Ford reiterated that it must be for Niagara from Niagara and the Chair and Mayors will lead the change. Gale has invited municipal mayors for their input, suggestions and support on navigating this issue, by March 3, 2026 – giving the municipalities just under two weeks to weigh in.
While Gale believes this is enough time for the mayors to get their opinions in, Mayor Redekop and council believe this is not enough time to provide a detailed response back to Gale and encourage more public consultations.
Appearing at the Fort Erie Regular Council Meeting on February 23, Gale took full responsibility for initiating the discussion of government reform and amalgamation after “touring around” and speaking with staff, businesses and taxpayers, later contradicting himself during the Regional Council meeting on Thursday, February 26, indicating he was “instructed by the Province” to send the letters to the mayors. Gale emphasized concerns about concerns about rising taxes and infrastructure pressures, but after an extensive questioning period acknowledged he has not yet completed a formal financial analysis or business case.
Mayor Redekop and Council made their stance very clear – there is a lack of transparency, research, data, public consultation and overall support to back Gale’s idea. Fort Erie council believes in government efficiency, effectiveness, and that it meets the needs of its residents and businesses. Fort Erie government is not opposed to review, but does not support forced amalgamations.
During this meeting, Fort Erie Councillors voted unanimously to authorize the mayor, on behalf of council, to file a formal complaint against Gale under the regional code of conduct regarding the letters, as Fort Erie council believes the letters violate the code of conduct. While Gale ensured he is not asking for a decision based on nothing, he has left more Council with more questions than answers. Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele has also flagged concerns about Gale’s appearance at the meeting, highlighting significant gaps in his proposal, such as a lack of analysis, data demonstrating savings, and a lack of a business case or transition plan. Steele noticed amalgamation is being suggested without modeling impacts on service levels, policing costs, labour harmonization or local planning processes and expects province to do the work later.
The approach raises serious concerns about advancing structural change without fully understanding the consequences for residents and communities. Other Mayoral responses have been pouring in, with many expressing concern about the manner in which this conversation was invoked.
In a statement to ThoroldToday, Mayor Ugulini of Thorold stated, “effective governance and collaborative decision-making require timely communication and meaningful consultation, neither of which occurred in this instance”.
Mayor Ganann of West Lincoln added, “I am very disappointed in the way that this matter was brought forward for discussion this past week…Meaningful consultation with municipalities, their Councils, residents and community partners as part of a thoughtful, transparent process should have been the initial phase of any such governance change-related discussions. Any and all discussions that could potentially change the manner in which Niagara communities are governed should not be quick, knee-jerk reactions to numbers and circumstances, but rather should be advanced using careful analysis of all pros and cons, open dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders and should be based upon a data-driven business case”.
Many municipalities have clarified a significant portion of the tax increases referenced by Gale were fixed or levied at the regional level, not by local municipalities, such as the police services budget being responsible this year for 4.4% of the tax increase of 6.3%. These numbers are relative to the “25%” increase over 4 years, which Gale had consistently used as evidence. Many municipalities have called for review at the regional level. Thorold Mayor Ugulini has stated, “Any consideration of governance changes must involve full and meaningful consultation and should focus on regional-level matters, such as the number of councillors and overall structure, rather than imposing changes on local area municipalities”.
Many towns alongside Thorold have outwardly expressed support for the regional review, such as West Lincoln, Grimsby, Pelham, and Port Colborne. Niagara-on-the-Lake supports an evidence-based review of how services can be delivered more effectively to Niagara residents, but is opposed to forced amalgamation.
Grimsby Mayor Jeff Jordan believes there is not enough information to make an informed decision on one of the two options proposed.
In a public statement, Wainfleet Mayor Brian Grant maintained that Wainfleet would prefer to stay independent, but proposed three conditions in order to be a constructive partner in transitioning to a 4-city model.
Mayors of Welland, Lincoln and Niagara Falls have been outwardly supportive of a 4-city model, though completed responsibly.
St. Catharines council failed to speak about the issue openly at their most recent city council meeting due to a lack of a unanimous council vote to consider a motion not appearing on the agenda.
Mayor Siscoe called for a Special Meeting of the City Council for Monday, March 2, at 6 pm. The Regional Chair heard from many Mayors and Councillors at the committee-of-the-whole meeting on February 26, 2026, where speakers were given 10 minutes to position themselves, whereas they only prepared for 5 due to previous email statements from Gale.
In light of government transparency and removing the red tape, when asked about releasing the mayor’s responses to the letter by Regional Councillor Andrea Kaiser, Gale said he will wait for the province to direct him to release them during public consultations.
However, Gale had previously made it clear that the issue may not go to public consultations; therefore, it will take the question into account.
