Wayne Gates
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report

I’ve never heard a single person suggest to me that handing more power over to Queen’s Park, at the cost of increased taxes with fewer services, is a good idea.

But let’s be clear: that is what municipal amalgamation would mean for Niagara. 

We have seen a clear pattern of disrespect for local voices at Queen’s Park, as the Ford government is set to force amalgamation of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority with communities in Toronto. 

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a proud, unique community. I know that seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating what makes our town so special, and why it’s such a distinct honour to represent this community as your member of provincial parliament. 

This town’s identity has been built by local families, businesses, volunteers, and elected leaders who understand and care deeply about our community’s history and heritage.  And that’s why I am concerned today. because I believe that local uniqueness is under threat when you concentrate decision-making outside of our community. 

Nobody sitting in an office in Toronto knows our creeks, our farmers, our floodplains, our tourism and our history, as well as the people who live here. 

Doug Ford is forcing through the amalgamation of our local conservation authority — the conservation authority that protects so much of what we hold dear in Niagara. 

Ford is silencing local voices and ending local control. And his government’s new agency will merge Niagara with Toronto-centered communities that can charge new fees back to conservation authorities, meaning local taxpayers will take on even more costs. 

As we have seen at attempts to meddle in municipal affairs in places like Barrie, where despite their local townships, their councils and residents opposing forced amalgamation, Ford and his Conservative politicians pushed it through anyway.  

Research on municipal amalgamations have shown that the promise of cost savings is never realized, and outlying, rural and smaller municipalities like Niagara-on-the-Lake get sidelined. 

We also know that amalgamation is not necessary for municipalities reform their governance structures. For example, several years ago, Niagara Falls moved to reduce the size of their council, and they did it without amalgamation. We can reform local governments and save costs for the taxpayer without forced, top-down amalgamation. 

With Doug Ford at the helm in the Ontario legislature, I remain seriously concerned amalgamating Niagara’s conservation authority is the first step, and they plan to ram through more unwanted, unnecessary municipal amalgamation in Niagara. We’ve seen him do it to communities like Barrie and Peel. 

Let’s be honest: what is happening at the conservation authority in Niagara is happening to municipalities and conservation authorities right across Ontario.  

I will always stand by the belief that the best solutions to governance reform are local solutions that respect our local communities, their unique characters and their local decision-making authority.

Wayne Gates is the member of provincial parliament for the Niagara Falls riding.