Council Resolution and Update on Municipal Governance Discussions

At a recent meeting, Council for the Town of Grimsby passed the following resolution:

Whereas the majority of Mayors signed a joint letter stating a commitment to building a governance model that is streamlined and transparent to the public; and
Whereas the provincial government has expressed a desire to reduce the number of municipal councillors in the Niagara Region; and
Whereas the timeline for Council to enact a By-law regarding ward structures, in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, has passed for the 2026 election;

Therefore be it resolved:

That the Town of Grimsby supports the motion passed by Regional Council on February 26th, 2026, regarding the governance review;
Resolved that Council endorse a reduction in Council size from eight (8) Councillors to six (6) for the 2026 municipal election and implementing Option 2B or 3 from the 2021 Council Structure and Ward Boundary Review Final Report, and a peer-review be completed to confirm projections, boundary rationale, and effective representation principles remain valid, if mandated by the Province;
Resolved that the Town Clerk be directed to confirm with the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that without provincial intervention, the above changes cannot take place until the 2030 election; and
That the Town Clerk be directed to circulate this motion to the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Premier of Ontario.

The report presented to Council is available here.

What This Means for Residents

By now, many residents may have seen or heard about recent discussions related to municipal governance in Niagara. We want to take a moment to address this directly.

First and foremost, these discussions are in the early stages. Only the Province can make a decision about municipal restructuring.

The Mayor and Town Staff are working collaboratively with municipal partners to ensure that any conversations reflect the best interests of our community. This includes a clear position that the Town does not support any forced amalgamation.

It is important not to draw conclusions about potential outcomes. There are many possibilities under consideration – including the possibility of no change at all. In the meantime, the Town continues to operate as usual.

Our focus remains on exploring opportunities to improve efficiency in service delivery at a regional level, as well as reviewing council composition both locally and regionally.

We recognize that discussions about governance can create uncertainty. The Town is committed to participating in constructive, good-faith dialogue and will continue to keep residents informed as more concrete information becomes available.

Your input matters. Complete the survey online (letstalkgrimsby.ca/governance-review) or send an email to governancereview@grimsby.ca by March 30, 2026. The results will be compiled and presented to Council at the next scheduled meeting on April 13, 2026.