I will begin by saying that I have zero skin in this game, as I have shared with people for nearly a year now that I have no intention of running for re-election.
And let’s leave the issue of any form of amalgamation aside for a moment, as I’ve yet to speak to any two people who can agree on whether there should be amalgamation of Niagara’s municipalities or what it might look like.
What I want to say is that these letters are not the way to communicate this initiative to Niagara’s directly-elected Regional Councillors, to Niagara’s mayors who also sit on Regional Council, and certainly not to the residents of Niagara.
(I’ll also point out there’s a significant discrepancy in dates on the letters…the letter to the mayors is dated February 5, 2026, suggesting a letter to the Minister is enclosed, and the letter to the Minister is dated February 19, 2026…make of that what you will.)
Chair Gale has no power or authority to act alone (he was not given any ‘strong’ powers similar to what 11 of 12 of Niagara’s mayors were given).
From the Municipal Act:
Role of head of council
225 It is the role of the head of council,
(a) to act as chief executive officer of the municipality;
(b) to preside over council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
(c) to provide leadership to the council;
(c.1) without limiting clause (c), to provide information and recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council described in clauses 224 (d) and (d.1);
(d) to represent the municipality at official functions; and
(e) to carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act. 2001, c. 25, s. 225; 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 100.
Head of council as chief executive officer
226.1 As chief executive officer of a municipality, the head of council shall,
(a) uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality;
(b) promote public involvement in the municipality’s activities;
(c) act as the representative of the municipality both within and outside the municipality, and promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally; and
(d) participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 101.
Gale’s job is to act at the direction of Council. His job is not to sidestep or circumvent Council in any way.
The way in which this potential amalgamation initiative was communicated is indicative of the problem of appointing a charter member of the 2014-2018 cabal as Niagara’s Regional Chair.
I can also assure you that (while I did not vote in favour of it), the decision to refer the budget back to the Chair and CAO was not because Council felt that “…patterns have emerged that, taken together, raise serious concerns regarding waste, abuse and a culture of casualness with taxpayer dollars.”
That is an outrageous and wildly insulting thing to say.
Frankly, I think the amalgamation decision has already been made and that these letters and any meetings (there’s a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 26 ahead of our regular Council meeting) are just smoke and mirrors to give some semblance of an impression that there was consultation with Council and the local area municipalities.
It appears I’ll be ending my term on Council the way I began it…by calling out inappropriate actions and sharing what should have been done instead.
Laura Ip - Regional Councillor 