Niagara-on-the-Lake’s town council plans to voluntarily reduce the number of seats it has ahead of this year’s municipal election, saying it’s aware Premier Doug Ford thinks there are far too many elected officials in Niagara’s 12 cities and towns and its regional government.

At its March 24 meeting, the town’s council agreed to ask the province to allow it to chop two council seats from its current number of eight councillor seats plus the lord mayor’s seat.

The town said those nine council seats represent one of the highest councillor-to-population ratios in Niagara, in a town of only about 19,000 people.

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said residents shouldn’t equate a slimmed down council with watered-down oversight of town operations.

“A smaller council is not a weaker council: it is a more focused, more accountable, and more effective one that can better serve our residents,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This decision also reflects ongoing feedback about the importance of keeping government efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with the needs of residents.”

‘Changes are coming’: councillor

The town said other Niagara town and city councils are also forging ahead with reducing council sizes.

Coun. Erwin Wiens said at the meeting that voluntarily reducing the council size can allow local input on governance rather than it coming down from the province.

“Changes are coming,” he said. “I don’t think we have any choice but to move to six [councillors.]”

Coun. Wendy Cheropita said the move could allow the town to ward off threats to amalgamate it with other municipalities.

“If [this] helps then I’m all for it,” she said. 

The town said it’s asking the province to make the change effective for this fall’s election, with a deadline for provincial approval by May.