The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has submitted formal feedback to the Province of Ontario, as requested by Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale, regarding potential municipal amalgamation in Niagara Region.
This submission represents Niagara-on-the-Lake’s position and analysis and, although aligned, is separate from the joint letter from the eight lower-tier municipalities submitted to the Province opposing forced amalgamation and proposing a joint Reform Agenda, as detailed in this joint news release.
In Niagara-on-the-Lake's individual submission, the Town clearly states its opposition to forced amalgamation and reaffirms Council’s commitment to protecting Niagara-on-the-Lake’s municipal independence, local decision-making authority, and community identity. The submission also outlines the Town’s unique operational context, service delivery model, and economic realities.
The submission to the Province is structured around key pillars that demonstrate Niagara-on-the-Lake’s operational strength and governance realities, including:
- Fiscal Stability
- Infrastructure and Asset Management
- Housing and Development Efficiencies
- Economic Resilience and Tourism Management
- Agriculture and Land Stewardship
- Public Safety and Volunteer Fire Service Model
- Modernization, Fleet Management, and Provincial Grant Stewardship
- Workforce Capacity and Continuity
Together, these pillars highlight Niagara-on-the-Lake’s distinct governance model and the importance of maintaining strong local decision-making authority. These reforms reflect a willingness among municipalities to pursue meaningful governance modernization while maintaining strong local representation and accountability.
“Niagara-on-the-Lake is strongly opposed to forced amalgamation,” said Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa. “Our Town has a unique identity, a strong local economy, and a governance model that works for our residents. Any discussion about restructuring municipal government must be grounded in evidence, transparency, and meaningful consultation with the communities affected.”
“Our goal is to ensure that Niagara-on-the-Lake’s voice is clearly represented,” said CAO Nick Ruller. “We support a thoughtful review of governance that focuses on improving service delivery, fiscal responsibility, and clarity of roles between municipal levels, without compromising local accountability.”
Next Steps
The Town’s feedback has now been submitted to the Province of Ontario and the Regional Chair for review. The Town will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates to Council and the community as more information becomes available.
The document submitted to the Province can be found by visiting the Town’s amalgamation information webpage. Residents are encouraged to learn more about the Town’s position and the ongoing governance discussion
The Town thanks the community for its engagement on this matter.
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Media contact:
Marah Minor, Corporate Communications Lead
905-468-3266 | communications@notl.com