Will It Possibly Be Four Cities Or One City Of Niagara? Gale Wants Niagara’s 12 Mayor’s Take By March 3rd
A Brief News Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper
Posted February 21st, 2026 on Niagara At Large
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recently appointed Niagara Regional Chair, Bob Gale, is pressing for amalgamation of local municipalities
Ontario’s Ford Government recently appointed Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale hasn’t wasted any time getting to work on one of Ford’s longtime plans for our Niagara region – amalgamating municipalities and reducing the number of municipal representatives here.
Gale, a former Niagara Regional Councillor and failed Doug Ford Conservative candidate in the Niagara Falls Riding in the last provincial election, made it clear to Niagara’s 12 mayors in a snap letter sent to them this past February 5th that amalgamation is his goal and that he is “deeply contemplating a four city or a one city model.”
In other words at least eight existing municipalities – most likely smaller ones like Fort Erie, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold and four others – would have to go. Also on the chopping block would be a significant number of the 126 municipal representatives representing us at the local and regional government levels now.
According to the letter, the mayors have until this coming March 3rd to give him their feedback on this.
What say will the rest of us have? Who in hell knows. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his friend and mentor, the former Conservative Premier Mike Harris who was also strong on amalgamating municipalities across the province, have never been much for leaving important decisions about our communities up to the people who live, work and pay taxes in them.
The only way that we, the people, are going to have our say is to stand up and make our views known as clearly and as loudly as we can. But how many of us will do that?
Come on people. Don’t’ wait until it is too late to let your mayor and members of your local council, along with your Niagara regional representatives and Gale and your members of the provincial legislature know how you feel!
Take a few minutes of your time to Google their contact information and send them your views now.
You might also want to remindyour mayor and local municipal councillors know that there is a municipal election this coming Fall and that their political future will be decided on what position they take on this important issue.
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Doug Draper, Niagara At Large
Here is a copy of the letter Niagara Regional Chair, who replaced the late Jim Bradley in that position, sent to Niagara’s 12 mayors earlier this February –
For an earlier post on this issue, click on – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2026/02/19/niagaras-new-regional-chair-bob-gale-is-calling-for-a-reduction-in-the-number-of-municipal-politicians-and-a-possible-amalgamation-of-local-municipalities-across-our-region/
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