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The City of Port Colborne has formally communicated its position to the Province of Ontario regarding the ongoing discussion about municipal governance in Niagara. In a letter sent to Premier Doug Ford this morning, Mayor William Steele confirmed that Port Colborne does not support municipal amalgamation and instead supports a careful, evidence-based governance review.
“Port Colborne is a strong and independent community with real momentum,” said Mayor William Steele. “Forced amalgamation is neither necessary nor beneficial to our continued success. Our focus should be on practical solutions that improve efficiency and deliver better value for taxpayers.”
In the correspondence, the Mayor highlighted the City’s recent progress, including more than $2 billion in new investment and job creation, accelerated housing approvals, expanded childcare spaces, and local initiatives to improve healthcare access. The City is also working with the Province to establish a municipally-owned Municipal Services Corporation to support water and wastewater servicing for the East Side Employment Lands.
The letter also highlights Port Colborne’s strong economic momentum while noting that decades of research show municipal amalgamation does not produce cost savings and can reduce local responsiveness and accountability.
“We support a governance review that is grounded in strong analysis and meaningful consultation,” Steele added. “Port Colborne is ready to work constructively with regional and provincial partners to find modern governance solutions that strengthen Niagara while protecting the progress our community has worked hard to achieve.”
The City will continue participating in the Niagara governance review process approved by Niagara Regional Council and advocating for practical reforms that improve coordination, reduce duplication, and maintain strong local accountability.
Residents can read the letter and learn more at www.portcolborne.ca/governance
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