Cambridge citizens do not support regional amalgamation

Re: Amalgamation winds may blow this way — Oct. 27

It is no surprise that a Record editorial would suggest support for regional amalgamation. The Record was in favour of this during the dreadful Harris years and one would expect the same attitude now that we are in the even more dreadful Ford era.

The citizens of Cambridge made it glaringly clear in the Harris years that we were against amalgamation and I feel quite safe in stating that we are against it now. Regional amalgamation would disempower Cambridge and township citizens. We would have less of a voice in regional affairs and, more important, on issues in our own neighbourhoods.

Waterloo Region has, throughout its history, shown a blatant disregard for the concerns of Cambridge and the townships. Regional council is set up in such a way that there are only three councillors from our city and, therefore, they will always be outvoted. We are only a source of tax money for Kitchener and Waterloo pet projects such as the LRT.

How can the Record say life would be better for all of us with one-tier government? For Kitchener and Waterloo it would be, but for the rest of the communities in the region, it would be infinitely worse.

However, The Record is correct in one thing — Ford has no regard for democracy except for how he can manipulate it in order to get his own way.

Brad McEwen

Cambridge