Page 46 - April2019Spectrum_Neat

Members Speak Out

QUESTION: Ontario is reviewing 82 municipalities, a move that raises the possibility of amalgamations
and comes not long after the Progressive Conservative government slashed the size of Toronto's city coun-
cil nearly in half. One of the municipalities is here in Waterloo Region. What are your thoughts on this?

“It is about time! Our Region is so services have been centralized in Kitchener. amalgamations.
intertwined from the employee base to the Transportation link is non-existence. Big
skills and post-secondary educators, that it divide is the 401, that almost feels like With regards to Toronto slashing their
is about time we start thinking as one. The crossing Atlantic in a boat if you need to council, it made sense because the
Waterloo Region EDC is a great start. If we travel to Kitchener during regular business stipends and expenses they receive versus
want to compete on a global scale, we need hours. Best alternate in my opinion is to let councillors and mayors in Waterloo Region
to shed the in fighting putting Waterloo Cambridge be on its own and amalgamate is night and day apart. Regardless, I look
against Cambridge against Kitchener. Kitchener-Waterloo with rural communities forward to the report which the Ontario
Lets get more efficient in the delivery of to the north and west of these two cities. Provincial Government is going to release. It
programs and governance to offer a unified Sardool Bhogal , Broker of Record is always good to review things, specifically
front. I work across the Region and anyone Homewood Real Estate Inc. Brokerage “if” there are improvements and efficiencies
outside the 519 Area Code has no idea what to be had! Key word being “if” !!!
the difference is between our three cities.” Amalgamation of municipalities provides Karl Kiefer
Erik Dahm, Broker scaling of services that is cost-efficient but Regional Councillor – Cambridge
Avison Young (Southwestern Ontario) ultimately represents a reduced democracy,
less localized government and a less Has to accomplish two things, there has
Amalgamation ... Too many chiefs working involved electorate, and less diversity in to be significant cost savings that get
against themselves. terms of policy innovation, decisions, etc. I passed down in the form of lower taxes
Matt Gerth , Armoured Touch Inc. am not in favour. for residences and businesses and it has
Stephen Penney, Solicitor to increase efficiencies. Things need to get
There are pros and cons in the amalgamation LENNOX & PENNEY PROFESSIONAL done faster without so much red tape and
of neighbouring cities and towns. In case CORPORATION bureaucracy delays. If it can’t accomplish
of Cambridge, with current structure of both of these then I don't see the point.
Regional government, Cambridge has been To date, my research and humble 28 years Mike Black
treated as distance cousin. Cambridge of Municipal government experience have Valet Car Wash Inc.
voice is rarely heard. All government not seen success stories when looking at

46 www.cambridgechamber.com
Spring 2019