Amalgamation in Niagara: What It Means and Why It Matters

Amalgamation is back in the conversation in Niagara—and with it comes a familiar promise: lower costs, more efficiency, and a better way forward.But is that actually true?In this episode of Searching for Solutions, former St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik sits down with Dr. Charles Conteh of Brock University to unpack one of the most misunderstood governance debates facing communities across Canada.Together, they explore:What municipal amalgamation actually changes—and what it doesn’tWhy the assumption that amalgamation lowers property taxes is often misleadingThe concept of status quo bias and why communities resist structural changeThe real trade-offs between efficiency, local identity, and democratic representationWhether Niagara’s current governance model is built for the future—or the pastThis is not a debate about right or wrong. It’s a conversation about decision-making and how communities position themselves for the challenges ahead - from housing and infrastructure to economic competitiveness.If Niagara were being built today from scratch… would it look the same?