The following letter was sent to Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa and members of town council. A copy was forwarded to The Lake Report for publication.
Dear lord mayor and members of council,
I am writing to formally oppose the proposed master business license program.
This proposal moves Niagara-on-the-Lake in the wrong direction.
Across Ontario, there is increasing discussion around municipal amalgamation and reducing layers of government. In that context, introducing a new layer of local regulation, oversight and cost is difficult to justify.
It runs counter to where public policy is heading — and to what taxpayers expect.
The direction should be clear: fewer layers, simpler systems and lower administrative burden.
During the last election, residents and business owners were clear — reduce red tape and control costs. This program does the opposite.
It introduces new licensing requirements, new fees and additional compliance obligations for businesses already dealing with inflation, labour shortages and complex provincial and federal regulations.
From a business perspective, this is not support. It is added friction.
From a governance standpoint, the timing is also questionable. Council and staff are already under significant pressure managing complex files — planning, infrastructure and ongoing policy challenges — while facing increased public scrutiny and limited resources.
This program does not solve a defined problem. It creates new administrative work, new enforcement requirements, and new points of conflict.
The staff report itself acknowledges that additional personnel and resources will be required. That means higher costs for taxpayers and further strain on staff capacity.
It also means council takes on a permanent new program that will require ongoing oversight, adjustment and justification.
This is not a minor change. It is a structural expansion of municipal responsibility.
If specific issues within the business community need to be addressed, they should be handled through targeted enforcement of existing bylaws. A blanket licensing system treats all businesses as liabilities to manage, rather than partners in the local economy.
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s strength comes from its business community. Adding cost and complexity at the municipal level risks discouraging investment and weakening that foundation.
At a time when the broader conversation is about streamlining government and reducing duplication, this proposal moves in the opposite direction.
I urge council to reject the master business license program.
Scott Gauld
NOTL
