Lincoln, Grimsby and West Lincoln hold private meeting around potential provincial changes

A private closed-door meeting between top officials in Lincoln, Grimsby, and West Lincoln took place on August 9 and the details around specifics of the conversation will never be known “due to the sensitive nature of topics that were discussed.”

Held at the West Niagara Agricultural Centre & Fairgrounds in Grimsby, the meeting included the full councils from all three towns – a first for all involved.

However, the general nature of the meeting revolved around questions about governance matters in the region now that Premier Doug Ford has assigned a provincial facilitator to study and make recommendations on Niagara’s two-tier government, consisting of both municipal governments and a regional government.

Ford’s stance on Niagara could be considered confusing. On the one hand, he has stated outright that with 12 municipal governments, Niagara has too many elected officials for its population.

However, he has also acknowledged the standing two-tier model is helping bring in more tourists and businesses.

That means it’s likely to come down to what the provincial facilitator believes is the best course of action for the region.

The three municipalities say they will work together if the facilitator’s review suggests changes need to be made.

“It is a crucial occasion for our three municipalities to come together in the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose,” stated Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “Our aim is to pool our resources and knowledge, align our visions, and drive positive change for the betterment of our residents.”

West Lincoln Mayor Cheryl Ganann added, “Our municipalities collaborate frequently on matters of mutual concern. This meeting is another great example of our dedication to finding innovative and effective ways to address governance matters that have the potential to seriously impact all of our residents, businesses, and visitors.”

Similarly, Mayor Jeff Jordan of the Town of Grimsby stated, “This meeting marks a significant step in building stronger relationships among our municipalities. We are eager to capitalize on this opportunity to work in harmony and harness our collective potential.”