The Municipality of South…

The Municipality of South Bruce Council would like to provide the following comments for consideration related to the proposed boundaries and criteria for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s 36 CAs.

• The province needs to provide clarity about what stays local and what becomes regional
• Municipalities should not be responsible for the restructuring costs.
• Municipalities need to retain approval and control of annual budgets.
• The province needs to provide information and conduct consultation of the funding model for the regional approach.
• Budget transparency requires municipal control of representation and proven local financial frameworks that already support clear communications and accountability.
• A regional model should preserve existing structures and institutional knowledge to safeguard continuity and prevent regional decision that could inadvertently negatively impact an area within the region.
• A regional model can support shared expertise and better coordination but only if it preserves local decision making. The most effective structure is a hybrid approach, where complex technical support is regionalized but core functions remain local.
• Rural communities and the Agricultural sector need to be recognized and prioritized in this consolidation especially if the lead CA is expected to be an urban center in each region.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments. We look forward to further consultation related to this proposed change.