Amalgamation

[MidTowner]

I think a very good case can be made for amalgamation here. I also don't think it's a foregone conclusion. If anyone has any evidence of the current government or anyone in particular in the current government having it out for regional municipalities, I'd be curious about that.

I really do think that this is a case of the political bent of the government of the day making them naturally suspicious of a situation in which parts of the province have to operate with additional levels of government. But I also think that's fair: is it likely that, without a review, all of the Regional Municipalities are currently operating in exactly the areas they ought to be?

So, while I know this prediction is not as interesting as the conspiracy theories, and would not make as good a headline as the Record editorial, I bet the result of the review will be that some lower-tier municipalities are amalgamated, some Regional Municipalities are given added responsibilities or directed to negotiate added responsibilities, and perhaps one or more are dissolved.

This is an interesting idea.  I'd be curious how they would justify a some but not all amalgamation plan.  Did you have something specific in mind?

Well, it's entirely possible that Kitchener and Waterloo be amalgamated without the rest of the region, and that some other redistribution of responsibilities between the new lower tier municipalities and the higher tier happen. Their justification? I don't know: "We drove down to KW and didn't even notice the border. Does it make sense to have 19 politicians riding on the gravy train when Windsor gets by fine with 11? But we've found Wellesley is a distinct society and the people need continued local representation."

That seems thinkable in some of the other regional municipalities, too- not that Muskoka or Niagara Regional Municipalities (for instance) are eliminated, but that "efficiencies" are found by amalgamating a few of their lower tiers.

Maybe Mississauga and Brampton will be amalgamated. Mississauga wants out of Peel, and Ford wants the mayor of Brampton to lose his job.