A new poll suggests strong opposition among Niagara Region residents to provincial involvement in a proposed municipal amalgamation, with a clear majority calling for the decision to be left in local hands.
The survey, conducted by Research Co. on behalf of CUPE Ontario, found that 62 per cent of respondents believe Premier Doug Ford and his government should step back from the issue. Instead, those respondents say the future of amalgamation should be determined by Niagara voters through the municipal election process this October.
By contrast, just 19 per cent support continued provincial involvement in pushing amalgamation forward, including through the now-resigned regional chair Bob Gale, who had been appointed by the province.
The poll was conducted between March 5 and March 10, prior to Gale’s resignation on March 12 following controversy surrounding his alleged ownership of a signed copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.
Opposition to provincial involvement spans across demographic groups. A majority of both men (58 per cent) and women (66 per cent) expressed the view that the decision should be removed from provincial control. Similar sentiments were shared across age groups, including:
- 60 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34
- 61 per cent of those aged 35 to 54
- 65 per cent of residents aged 55 and over
The findings suggest that resistance to amalgamation—at least in its current form—is both widespread and consistent across the region.
The survey also found strong support for a direct public vote on the issue. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents said amalgamation should be decided through a special vote held alongside the already scheduled municipal elections in October. Support for a referendum rises to 76 per cent among residents aged 55 and older.
The debate over amalgamation in the Niagara Region has been ongoing, with proponents arguing it could streamline governance and reduce costs, while critics warn it could erode local representation and decision-making.
The poll surveyed 934 adults across Niagara using a mixed methodology of online and telephone responses. Results were weighted based on Canadian census data for age and gender. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
With municipal elections approaching, the results add pressure on provincial leaders to clarify their position—and potentially reconsider their approach.
For now, Niagara residents appear to be sending a consistent message: if amalgamation is going to happen, they want the final say.
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