Niagara is often seen as “over-governed,” with a higher-than-usual number of elected officials per capita and a two-tier municipal system with thirteen separate municipalities in the region. This often creates red tape and regulatory overlap, increasing the bureaucratic burden for businesses. 

Overlapping government services impact any business that has to deal with municipal government, but the problem is acute for developers building housing, commercial, and institutional buildings. Layered planning requirements delay housing projects and add to the cost of finished homes during a housing crisis. Jurisdictional differences over infrastructure can lead to inefficiencies where installations and maintenance that could be combined are separated, increasing delays and inconvenience for businesses and residents.

Of all Ontario census divisions with populations over 250,000, Niagara has the highest number of municipal politicians per capita. The average is 10 elected officials per 100,000 residents; Niagara has 28. The number of Niagara regional councillors per 25,000 residents varies from 1.1 to 3.9 in Niagara, which effectively creates a democratic deficit for certain municipalities.   

Almost all of Niagara’s elected officials serve part-time. Without time, resources, and staff to assist them, not only are complex decisions made more difficult, but the influence of unelected staffers is increased. 

However, studies have repeatedly shown that efforts to merge or reconfigure governments have generally resulted in increased costs and administrative upheaval, most recently in Peel, but in many other examples dating back to the 19th century. Bearing that in mind, we need to tread carefully and cautiously to be assured that the cure is not worse than the disease. 

The GNCC supports simplification of government by merging departments and eliminating duplicated two-tier services, ideally on a voluntary basis by municipal governments themselves. Structural revision of government shouldn’t be undertaken without an indication from clear and unbiased studies that the revision would lower the tax burden, increase service delivery, or—ideally—both.

2022-ongoing