De-amalgamation ‘dead’ issue: Mayor
‘We have much greater clout as a united city,’ says Eisenberger
Mayor Fred Eisenberger says a new study suggesting it’s possible to break up forced municipal mergers won’t cause him to start a debate on de-amalgamating Hamilton.
The mayor does not believe it’s an issue anymore and he notes the study by the conservative think tank also notes it’s not that easy to undo mergers.
“It’s dead, as f ar as I’m concerned,” the mayor said Tuesday in response to the study from the Fraser Institute.
“The report also said — the brief overview that I saw — it is very complex, very difficult and not wise. I’m not at the least bit interested in de-amalgamation. That horse has left the barn a long time ago. We’re better off together than we are apart.”
He, however, would support an analysis to show the “benefits” of amalgamation.
“I think there’s some wisdom to someone, at some point, evaluating the benefits,” Eisenberger said. “I don’t think that has been done in a fulsome way. Having the city united, and planning itself, has been a very positive benefit for us going forward. You can see that investments are being made and we are having much better success in terms of getting provincial and federal dollars coming to Hamilton.”
He continued, “We have much greater clout as a united city and I think that is demonstrated by what we are able to do now in terms of transit and water treatment facilities ... you name it in terms of the additional revenues and dollars that are coming to the municipality because of our size and our clout.”
In 2000, Hamilton was merged with Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Glanbrook and Stoney Creek to create the amalgamated City of Hamilton. It did not sit well with some suburban residents and a group headed by Carlisle resident Roman Sarachman formed the Committee to Free Flamborough. They remain upset that it was forced — residents didn’t get a vote — and the boost in their taxes.
Sarachman presented two petitions to councillors in May asking for a review of amalgamation and for the city to halt a ward boundary review. Councillors didn’t react.
Sarachman said his group is not going away because it believes it is a question of democracy. He is not surprised at the study’s finding and believes Flamborough could stand alone as a separate municipality because “all we are doing is subsidizing the City of Hamilton.”
“It took Scotland 300 years to have a referendum to get out,” Sarachman said. “We’re not going to take 300 years, but we are going to get our referendum.”
The study says while municipal breakups are rare, they can happen in the right situations. It says a vast amount of research has found consolidation fails to produce promised cost savings, rarely leads to more efficient service delivery and reduces the ability of citizens to be involved in the life of their local governments. It cited a case in Manitoba where a township de-amalgamated from Winnipeg after a 21-year fight as a success. It cited Quebec where de-amalgamation of parts of Montreal was not “very rational.”
Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin said in a statement he would consider restructuring, but only if it is supported by the council. He also noted there are no provincial funds to assist de-amalgamations.
That horse has left the barn a long time ago. We’re better off together.
FRED EISENBERGER