The province is asking Ontarians what they think about the possibility of amalgamating tiers of municipal and regional governments.

No decisions have been firmly made, but it is clear Premier Doug Ford’s Conservative government is interested in cutting back the number of politicians across the province.

Based on provincial riding boundaries, Niagara could see a number of different types of mergers. Subsequently, politicians across the region have expressed concerns about loss of identity in small communities like Niagara-on-the-Lake. Similar communities have distinct needs that don’t always coincide with other municipalities.

Furthermore, privatization of services has been a topic of discussion, and many Niagara politicians agree when mergers happen, nobody saves any money.

The province is asking for resident opinions through a survey. It can be found at www.ontario.ca/form/survey-regional-government-review. The paper encourages all residents to write in with questions and concerns.