Amalgamation

Thursday January 17, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 17, 2019

Ontario reviewing regional governments, raising prospect of future amalgamations

Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives have announced a plan Tuesday to comprehensively review the province’s regional governments.

Hamilton Amalgamation Octopus, 1999

The review includes all eight regional municipalities — Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County, and the County of Simcoe — and their lower-tier municipalities, according to a government news release.

A total of 82 municipalities will be examined, and the province hasn’t ruled out the possibility that some could be amalgamated in the future.

The PCs say the review will focus on three areas: governance, decision-making and service delivery.

“Our government is committed to improving the way regional government works and we will be looking at ways to make better use of taxpayers’ dollars and make it easier for residents and businesses to access important municipal services,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark in a news release.

Common Sense Revolution, 1995

Under former PC premier Mike Harris, Ontario amalgamated a series of local governments ranging from Kawartha Lakes to Toronto in a similar bid to improve efficiency, though the effectiveness of that strategy has been questioned in the years since.

“There’s always opportunity for two municipalities to come together to talk about that aspect, but we’re not talking about that in this regional government review,” he said during an interview at Queen’s Park.

In Ontario, upper-tier municipalities or regions typically oversee services such as policing and garbage pickup, while lower-tier muncipalities handle local bylaws. The current system was introduced in the 1970s.

Mayors from around the GTHA were meeting with Toronto Mayor John Tory on Tuesday afternoon as details about the review first emerged.

Toronto Megacity, 1996

During a news conference following the meeting, several mayors said they would support the review as long as their communities are made part of the process.

“Consult with us before unilaterally making changes, consult with our community before making changes and allow us to educate you a little bit on what we think needs to be done,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie acknowledged that the decades-old system has room for improvement. She noted that the three municipalities that form Peel Region — Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon —are each at different growth stages, with different priorities.

“I think this is a great opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship; this is a relationship that is 44 years old now. It perhaps doesn’t make sense as the way it used to,” she told reporters.

Megacity, 1997

Results of the review are expected in early summer, the PCs said. However, political observers are already questioning if such a sweeping and quick review will be effective, especially given the short timeline.

“There’s a lot of things to cover. Trying to get them all within a single review strikes me as a fairly large task,” said Robert Williams, a professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo who studies municipal governance.

Williams drew comparisons to the amalgamations carried out by the Harris government, and the current government’s decision to slash the size of Toronto city council nearly in half last year. (Source: CBC News) 

 

Friday, June 3, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday, June 3, 2016 Hamilton and its Parts Inspired by a letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator which stirred a bit of feedbackÊ If you are such big believers in one amalgamated city, why do you let people sign letters with their old suburban town names? There is no Stoney Creek or Dundas. We are all Hamilton. You should stop allowing people to live in the past. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6696743-may-30-lrt-is-the-option-offered-preserving-the-quality-of-life-and-other-letters-to-the-editor/ Hamilton, Amalgamation, city, names, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, suburbs

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, June 3, 2016

Hamilton and its Parts

Inspired by a letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator which stirred a bit of feedback

If you are such big believers in one amalgamated city, why do you let people sign letters with their old suburban town names? There is no Stoney Creek or Dundas. We are all Hamilton. You should stop allowing people to live in the past. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday March 17, 2004

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday March 17, 2004 Hamilton's Provincial Duds Perhaps Hamilton's five representatives to Queen's Park -- Judy Marsales, Dominic Agostino, Marie Bountrogianni, Jennifer Mossop and Ted McMeekin -- should be known as MIAs rather than MPPs.Harsh? Perhaps. But on the issue of the crushing costs to municipalities of downloaded social service, we have yet to hear any of our government members offer any significant support, let alone aid. While Hamilton pleads to an indifferent premier, our MPPs have been mostly silent. Yes, the downloading was by a different Queen's Park regime, and perhaps some or all of the "Hamilton Five" are working behind the scenes as Dalton McGuinty tries to balance promises with fiscal realities. But in the absence of any of them publicly championing Hamilton's cause, Mayor Larry Di Ianni is left sticking his neck out as he proposes an economic ultimatum to the province. Without $19.5 million for social services, Hamilton will not balance its budget, he says. Confrontation with the premier and his ministers has its risks, since municipalities essentially exist at the will and whim of the provincial government. But playing nice hasn't worked for two past mayors, and the stars-are-aligned promise of having a unified caucus of Hamilton MPPs has so far not delivered in any consequential way. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Hamilton, QueenÕs Park, Toni Valeri, Judy Marsales, Dominic Agostino, Marie Bountrogianni, Jennifer Mossop, Ted McMeekin, social service, pooling, Ontario, Liberal, Flamborough, Flamboro, MPP, amalgamation, Liberal, AncasterÑDundasÑFlamboroughÑAldershot

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 17, 2004

Hamilton’s Provincial Duds

Perhaps Hamilton’s five representatives to Queen’s Park — Judy Marsales, Dominic Agostino, Marie Bountrogianni, Jennifer Mossop and Ted McMeekin — should be known as MIAs rather than MPPs.Harsh? Perhaps. But on the issue of the crushing costs to municipalities of downloaded social service, we have yet to hear any of our government members offer any significant support, let alone aid. While Hamilton pleads to an indifferent premier, our MPPs have been mostly silent.

Yes, the downloading was by a different Queen’s Park regime, and perhaps some or all of the “Hamilton Five” are working behind the scenes as Dalton McGuinty tries to balance promises with fiscal realities. But in the absence of any of them publicly championing Hamilton’s cause, Mayor Larry Di Ianni is left sticking his neck out as he proposes an economic ultimatum to the province. Without $19.5 million for social services, Hamilton will not balance its budget, he says.

Confrontation with the premier and his ministers has its risks, since municipalities essentially exist at the will and whim of the provincial government. But playing nice hasn’t worked for two past mayors, and the stars-are-aligned promise of having a unified caucus of Hamilton MPPs has so far not delivered in any consequential way. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday October 29, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday October 29, 2003 Poetically speakin' From a letter to the editor of The Hamilton Spectator: RE: 'McMeekin Cools to Deamalgamation' (Oct 25) By Halley Ann Schaub, Flamborough From which side of your mouth are you speakin', Flambasterdas Member McMeekin? You garnered our votes But now you've turned coats, Your ears need an old-fashioned tweakin'! (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Ted McMeekin, Flamborough, Flamboro, MPP, Hamilton, amalgamation, Liberal, AncasterÑDundasÑFlamboroughÑAldershot, flambasterdas, Parliamentary, Secretary, Assistant

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 29, 2003

Ted McMeekin Gallery

Ted McMeekin Gallery

Poetically speakin’

From a letter to the editor of The Hamilton Spectator:

RE: ‘McMeekin Cools to Deamalgamation’

(Oct 25) By Halley Ann Schaub, Flamborough

From which side of your mouth are you speakin’,
Flambasterdas Member McMeekin?
You garnered our votes
But now you’ve turned coats,
Your ears need an old-fashioned tweakin’!
(Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Monday September 6, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Monday September 6, 2003 The deamalgamation quandary We've been hearing a tiresome one-note tune since well before the new city of Hamilton was created. The singers of that song have pumped up the volume for the provincial election campaign.It's too bad the deamalgamation blues are getting louder because all that does is cast a pall of uncertainty over a city that, barely three years after its birth, is striving for stability and growth. And it doesn't help that Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty is joining the deamalgamation choir, albeit with a very quiet voice indeed. McGuinty has left the door open, ever so slightly, to pulling apart the amalgamated municipalities in Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and, maybe, London. He acknowledges that in the case of Toronto at least, it's a dumb idea. But he says he's willing to listen if a consensus develops on a different way of governing. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Ted McMeekin, Flamborough, Flamboro, MPP, Hamilton, amalgamation, Liberal, AncasterÑDundasÑFlamboroughÑAldershot, Dalton McGuinty, worms, can

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday September 6, 2003

The deamalgamation quandary

We’ve been hearing a tiresome one-note tune since well before the new city of Hamilton was created. The singers of that song have pumped up the volume for the provincial election campaign.It’s too bad the deamalgamation blues are getting louder because all that does is cast a pall of uncertainty over a city that, barely three years after its birth, is striving for stability and growth.

And it doesn’t help that Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty is joining the deamalgamation choir, albeit with a very quiet voice indeed.

McGuinty has left the door open, ever so slightly, to pulling apart the amalgamated municipalities in Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and, maybe, London. He acknowledges that in the case of Toronto at least, it’s a dumb idea. But he says he’s willing to listen if a consensus develops on a different way of governing. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)