02/26/2026
I'd like to retire one of the myths at the centre of Bob Gale's Regional amalgamation musings permanently.
MYTH:
That Niagara Region's 126 Council members at the regional and local level cost far more than amalgamated structures with fewer politicians.
FACT:
For the sake of argument, let’s compare pay, benefits and other expenses for Niagara Region and its local municipal politicians vs. pay, benefits and other expense for a single tier municipality like the City of Hamilton with 16 Council members. The following excludes the office costs of the Regional Chair, the local Niagara Mayors and the Hamilton Mayor. Data is taken from public documents and is as comprehensive as I could obtain in a short time.
COST FOR NIAGARA LOCAL AND REGIONAL POLITICIANS (2024):
Population Served 539,180
Regional (including the Chair) salaries, benefits and expenses $1,884,793
Local salaries, benefits and expenses $3,434,468
TOTAL NIAGARA POLITICAL SALARIES, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES $5,319,261
COST FOR CITY OF HAMILTON POLITICIANS (2024):
Population Served 632,111
City Councillors and the Mayor salaries, benefits and expenses $2,045,814
Ward Budgets (excluding the Mayor’s Office) $6,246,535
TOTAL HAMILTON POLITICAL SALARIES, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES $8,292,349
REALITY:
Across Niagara Region, 126 Local and Regional Councillors are compensated on a part-time basis for work that is considered to be part-time. Mayors also serve on Regional Council and receive payment from the Region for those duties. In some municipalities, politicians may receive compensation for Board or Committee positions. Compensation, benefits and expense policies are set out in the respective by-laws. Accommodation and paid staff support are available only to Mayors and the Regional Chair. Local and Regional Councillors serve their Wards and municipalities from home offices with some expenses covered and working around their full-time employment. In 2024, Niagara's 126 elected officials served 539,180 people.
In the City of Hamilton, an amalgamated single tier municipality created in 1998, the 16 elected officials (Mayor and Council) work full-time. As with Niagara Region, some officials receive additional compensation associated with Boards and Committees. The 15 Ward Councillors are allocated a budget for paid staff, office space and office expenses to support their work in their Wards. In 2024, Hamilton's 16 elected officials served 632,111.
AND FINALLY, FOR THE RECORD:
This is not intended to compare the respective pros and cons of full-time vs part-time elected officials. It's not about controlling operating costs, re-jigging the myriad of services provided by local and regional municipalities, or better ways to manage municipal responsibilities. It’s intended to show that rhetoric does not replace research, evidence and analysis. The data noted may need additional rigour and tweaking but it's a heck of a lot better than speculation without facts.
