Mayor Frank Campion addresses governance review during province’s trip to Niagara

Welland’s population is expected to grow from 55,750 to 80,844 by 2031, which includes an increase of 11,805 new dwelling units and over 4.8 million square feet of new commercial space. Welland is home to state-of-the-art factories, world-class sports facilities and events, innovative food manufacturers, and cutting-edge medical institutions.

Welland offers immense talent and support to these industries through renowned institutions like Niagara College, Brock University, and the Vineland Research Institute.

As a central municipality in Niagara nestled between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, connected through the Welland Canal, we are one of the three Big Cities, which include St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. Under the Strong Mayor system, our strategic plan focuses on four priorities: Economic Growth, Environmental Stewardship, Livability, and Health & Well-Being. We are known as a thriving city to Work, Live, Play and Invest.

Welland envisions a future where:

• There is a decrease in the number of lower-tier municipalities from 12 to a more efficient count while avoiding complete amalgamation into a singular municipality.
• A comprehensive evaluation process of the current two-tier model and the elimination/reduction of duplicated services between the lower and upper tier municipalities (ex. all Planning Authority should be solely delegated to the LAM).
• Exploration of uniform and more efficient council structures within an updated governance model.

Moreover, the 13 municipalities in Niagara, including the Region, have embraced a shared services approach to align with core provincial objectives. Together, we aim to bolster Ontario’s housing supply and enhance governance effectiveness. We envision leveraging this ongoing effort to contribute to the evolution of a new Niagara. With provincial support, we advocate for a tailored approach crafted specifically for Niagara, anchored in the principles of good governance, streamlined processes, and continuous alignment with Provincial priorities. We encourage the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to consider this made-in-Niagara approach.