Governance Review

The Honourable Premier Doug Ford,

On Thursday, March 26, Niagara Regional Council voted to move forward with a comprehensive service delivery review. We know that the residents of Niagara deserve better than the status quo. As Mayors of Niagara, with consensus of the Region, we support moving forward with meaningful change in Niagara. We are writing to you with a straightforward purpose: to update you on the concrete, made-in-Niagara solutions our municipalities have taken since that letter, and to make a specific request of the Province.

We have worked with our colleagues across Niagara to reflect the needs of each municipality; a shared vision we are accountable to is the one we sign together, and it is that shared vision we are writing to report progress on.

On the question of regional governance structure, we are united in our support for a weighted distribution voting model that balances representation by population with fairness and ensures every municipality has a meaningful voice. Municipal best practises support a weighted distribution system that supports a diverse geography and creates a system that meets the needs of major urban centres and the rural communities that make Niagara the thriving agricultural region it is today.

Since our last letter, our municipalities have made concrete steps forward. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold, Grimsby, and Port Colborne have each passed formal resolutions to voluntarily reduce the size of their local councils. In 2025, Lincoln Council lowered its size by 2 representatives.

These steps are a real demonstration of Niagara's municipalities making difficult decisions without waiting for provincial direction.

Our reform agenda is focused on three things that matter to every taxpayer in Niagara: fewer politicians, less duplication, and better value for every tax dollar spent. That means, subject to financial review, transitioning services such as regional roads, Housing and Social Services, Public Health, and EMS to locally governed Public Service Boards. It means establishing publicly owned Water and Wastewater Service Corporations to deliver essential services more efficiently and accountably, driving efficiencies through eliminating overlap and providing better value for taxpayers. And it also means continuing to review and recalibrate the number of politicians across the region, which as the resolutions passed by our municipalities demonstrate, is already underway.

We have one specific request. For the council reductions passed recently by Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold, Grimsby, and Port Colborne to take effect at the 2026 municipal election, the Province must act by May 2026. These municipalities have moved voluntarily and in good faith, and we are asking the Province to match that commitment with the legislative authority needed to make their decisions count.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss next steps.

Respectfully,

The Mayors of Grimsby, Port Colborne, West Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet, St. Catharines, Lincoln, and the Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Read the full letter as a PDF.

Notice of Special Meeting to discuss Regional Governance Reform in Niagara

Date: March 11, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

Location: Council Chambers at 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill

The purpose of the meeting is to provide a further opportunity for residents and members of Council to share their views on the future of regional governance in Niagara. No decisions are being made at the special meeting of council.

Written comments are encouraged as the preferred method of receiving public input. Please provide written input by mailing or e-mailing your comments to governancereview@pelham.ca for inclusion in the comments submitted to the Province of Ontario following the Special Meeting.

View the full notice of special meeting and learn how to register as a speaker at pelham.ca/news.

A Message From Town of Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin

This is Mayor Marvin Junkin.

There’s been a lot of discussion recently about amalgamation. I’m here as Mayor to get your feedback, whether you agree with me or not, I want to hear what you have to say, because that’s the basis of good policy and good decisions for this community.

Amalgamation means change. In short, I don’t think Pelham should be amalgamated, but I’m really open to some dramatic change at the Regional level.

I have served this community as an elected official for more than a decade and sat on the Regional Council for seven of those years. I’ve learned a lot about local government. This includes some insight into what works for Pelham.

We’ve made a lot of thoughtful changes at Pelham Town Hall over the years, which I’m proud to say have resulted in a Town that now has money in the bank, a high rate of growth, and a lot of awards to its credit, all while still being the Pelham community I know and in which I was born, raised my family, and now grandkids.

I’ve also spent more hours than I can count in Regional Council meetings, advocating for Pelham.

Change is hard, but I feel change is necessary at the Region. I’ll get into more of the details at Regional Council, but please know that I think there are better ways to deliver water and wastewater, and likely the Regional road system as well. Those are good places to start and major areas of spending which could help all taxpayers.

I urge each of you to speak up about the Pelham you have and the Pelham you want. I strongly believe that today’s Pelham can continue to thrive, if given the opportunity.

An amalgamated future, means that decisions about Pelham will be made outside our borders, by people who may not understand our needs.

I look forward to hearing from you.