Letter to Premier Ford from the Mayor

RE: Follow up to Joint Letter from Lower-Tier Municipalities of Niagara Region

Dear Honourable Premier Doug Ford,

On behalf of City Council and the residents of the City of Thorold, I am writing in response to recent correspondence from Regional Chair Bob Gale proposing amalgamation. This letter should be read in conjunction with the joint correspondence submitted by seven other Mayors, representing two-thirds of the municipalities within the Niagara Region, who share our opposition to forced amalgamation.

Thorold is a growing, financially responsible, and well-managed city. Centrally located within Niagara, we have significant lands available to support residential, commercial, and industrial development. Our community is actively contributing to Ontario’s housing supply and economic growth objectives, demonstrating our ability to plan for, service, and accommodate growth effectively while maintaining fiscal discipline and delivering high-quality municipal services.

Thorold is the fastest-growing municipality in Niagara, the fourth fastest in Ontario, and the eighth fastest in Canada, having experienced a 26.7% population increase between 2016 and 2021. This growth is continuing due to considerable developable land within our urban area boundary and our strategic central location. Over the past five years, on average the City has created more than 560 dwelling units annually, and this strong momentum is expected to continue. We are also experiencing significant commercial and industrial expansion, generating well-paying jobs and strengthening our tax base. The internationally recognized Thorold Multimodal Hub is an excellent example of this.

The City of Thorold is in a strong financial position, supported by robust reserves. According to our Asset Management Plan, 78% of municipal assets are in fair or better condition, underscoring the overall strength of our infrastructure.

The 2025 BMA Study further highlights Thorold’s fiscal health. Our tax reserves represent 160% of taxation revenue, the highest in Niagara and the third highest among all municipalities included in the study. On a per capita basis, Thorold leads the Region at $1,496, well above the $920 average. Our current external debt is minimal and will be fully retired by 2026. These indicators demonstrate prudent financial management and long-term sustainability.

We have heard the province’s concerns regarding accountability and modernized service delivery and share the objective of building a governance model that is streamlined, transparent, and results driven. At Niagara Regional Council on February 26, 2026, a strong majority of elected representatives supported initiating a comprehensive governance and service delivery review. We view this as a proactive opportunity to position Niagara as a leader in responsible municipal reform.

The proposed review could include consideration of:

• Establishing one or more Water and Wastewater Public Corporation(s) under the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025.

• Subject to a financial review, reforming local and regional services to drive savings and deliver better value for every tax dollar – such as transitioning the Regional road network and remaining services such as Social Services, Public Health and EMS to locally-governed Public Service Boards.

• Reducing the number of politicians by streamlining councils to reflect the needs and scale of each community.

Throughout this process, we remain guided by consistent feedback from residents who value responsive, locally grounded governance that reflects the unique character of Niagara’s communities. While this work is significant, we are confident that preliminary strategies can be developed by the year end.

We recognize that change is necessary to strengthen governance, improve efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability. The City of Thorold remains open to thoughtful, evidence-based reforms that enhance service delivery and reduce duplication where appropriate. However, forced amalgamation is not the solution.

Thorold’s strength lies in its distinct identity, responsive decision-making, and strong connection between City Council and its residents. Amalgamation would dilute local representation, weaken community voice, and risk diverting attention from the specific needs and opportunities within our city. Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that amalgamation does not automatically generate cost savings and can introduce new complexity and financial pressures.

We are committed to working collaboratively with our local area municipalities and the province to advance shared priorities, including housing, infrastructure, and economic development. These objectives can be achieved while preserving the City of Thorold’s autonomy.

We respectfully request that the province reject any consideration of amalgamation involving the City of Thorold and instead support locally driven solutions that uphold strong, accountable municipal governance.

In closing, we strongly oppose any form of forced amalgamation. It is also important to clarify that the tax increases and deferred capital backlog referenced in Chair Gale’s letters are occurring at the Regional level, not at the Local Municipal level. Deal with these issues at the appropriate level of government. That being said, we remain committed to being part of responsible, constructive solutions.

City Council stands united in this position. We are proud of our community, confident in our capacity to manage growth and deliver services responsibly and firmly committed to remaining an independent municipality while continuing to contribute meaningfully to the broader success of Niagara and the Province of Ontario. In these unprecedented times, the last thing our residents and businesses need is additional, unnecessary uncertainty.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter further.

Respectfully,