This morning on twitter a few of us, namely Kurt Wissent (@kwissent), Darren Shaw (@DarrenShaw), @greenspotting and I (@benjaminbach), have been discussing the recent news that talks towards amalgamation of Kitchener and Waterloo are progressing:
KITCHENER — Amalgamation may be back on the local political agenda, but only for two cities.
Councillors for Kitchener and Waterloo will be asked Monday to support a referendum, to be included in this fall’s municipal elections, about holding merger talks between their two cities.
High-tech executives are scheduled to appear as delegations in both Kitchener and Waterloo with a simple request — that both city councils ask the Ontario government for permission to include a single question on this fall’s ballots.
The question: “Would you support members of council engaging in a dialogue about the merits of merging the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo? Yes or No.”
Unlike previous attempts at amalgamating the eight municipal governments of Waterloo Region, this one focuses solely on the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo.
The latest group to push for the talks includes Ian Klugman of Communitech and Tim Jackson of Tech Capital Partners. Part of the push includes an open letter delivered earlier this week to the mayors and councils of Kitchener and Waterloo and signed by more than 50 leaders in business and the arts, including Sandvine president Dave Caputo, Open Text executive chair Tom Jenkins, David Marskell, executive director of the Waterloo Region Children’s Museum and Jamie Grant, general manager of the Centre in the Square.
“I suspect there will be some questions but I also suspect there will be some support,” Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr said in an interview Thursday.
“How can you say ‘no’ to engaging in some dialogue?” Zehr said.
A controversey brewing is that Cambridge is not part of the talks, because their mayor is against the idea:
Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig has been one of the most vocal opponents of amalgamation into a megacity. Craig and his council were not included in a letter from those pushing for the merger of Kitchener and Waterloo.
Waterloo counselor Mark Whaley espouses the viewpoint that I agree with – if Cambridge won’t talk about the idea, Kitchener and Waterloo should not stop themselves from considering something which may be very beneficial to all of us, the residents and tax payers of the area.
“We are talking about a dialogue on merging our cities to provide better services,” Whaley said.
Whaley does not want to see the current push for a municipal merger get bogged down in holding talks with municipalities that are not interested in even talking about it.
“Why try to partner with people who do not want to partner with you?” Whaley said.
What do you think?
Let me know in the comments, or on twitter by including ‘@benjaminbach’ in your tweet
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Comments from twitter this morning
@DarrenShaw -
7:43am, Jan 08 from TwitterBerry :
Its about time its explored properly. Leaving an unwilling participent in Cambridge out of the mix is a good idea.
@GreenSpotting
7:46am, Jan 08 from TweetDeck
Looking at amalgamation of K/W – REALLY muddy, what then is a ‘Region”? if a go, let Camb OUT of region plz. I think good for KW, real BAD for Camb. Camb should disconnect, look to leading South , more organic ties. although I find it ironic as region splits , Conestoga college building across 401, only college where “highway runs thru it”
@paulstickney
9:17am, Jan 08
No Waterloo Region w/o Cambridge
More comments from twitter:
@ccarmichael 9:19am, Jan 08
IMO, the “two-city” model is the only workable amalgamation scenario. K-W+the northern twps & Cambridge+North Dumfries
@jrodgers 9:21am, Jan 08
I think Cambridge is a minefield given how people are nuts for Galt/Preston/etc identities but they should be included
@paulstickney 9:22am, Jan 08
All municipalities make up the identity and strength of Waterloo Region. You don’t force drastic change w/o all family support
@DarrenShaw 9:28am, Jan 08 I believe for business…”bigger will is better”. No offence Kitchener but Waterloo is the brand to sell world wide.
@mikepgww 10:12am, Jan 08 @GreenSpotting @benjaminbach region includes townships as well…not to mention garbage, police and transit…Cambridge does not want out…
GreenSpotting .@mikepgww @benjaminbach look at how well the tourism board “amalgamation” works out for Cambridge. no local biz support at all
GreenSpotting RT @mikepgww: @benjaminbach region makes sense…mega city does not -agreed BUT new imbalance be deadly, hard now to even get represntation
mikepgww @GreenSpotting @benjaminbach Cambridge would not want out of rgn to set up services themselves…region makes sense…mega city does not
ENBdavies @mikepgww @benjaminbach @DarrenShaw • gd old fashioned infrastructure borders & xenophobias as regionalisms fear the unknown blue collars •
ENBdavies @DarrenShaw @benjaminbach part of the reason ths region out performs much of Canada is a vry Strong Smalls business & entrepreneur segment
GreenSpotting RT @mikepgww:@benjaminbach …Cambridge does not want out…- here’s problem, KW amalgs, cambridge WILL want out. (not preferred, fact)
mikepgww @benjaminbach @DarrenShaw Cambridge people go to kw all the time…when do kw people come to Cambridge? Not that often.
mikepgww @benjaminbach @DarrenShaw kw has been one city livving a dual life 4 some time. Cambridge has never been part (or welcome) in the chat.
As I was quoted saying above, I think the only workable solution is the “two-city” model that was first proposed in the report that was part of the process that led to the eventual creation of the Region of Waterloo in 1973.
In the two-city model, the Region is divided into two single-tier municipalities. The northern city would be comprised of Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot Twp, Wellesley Twp, and Woolwich Twp. The southern city would be comprised of Cambridge and North Dumfries Twp.
As single-tier municipalities (mini mega-cities) each would be responsible for their own services: fire, police, water, waste, etc. Certainly not a straightforward process to determine who does what, but not impossible either.
To me, this is the only fair way to recognize the North’s desire to merge amongst themselves and the South’s desire to be left alone.
@KRCraft 10:31pm, Jan 09
I’m firmly on the ‘Yes’ side and even moreso after further education from our Mktg Mgr: Amalgamation is good for business.
Overheard yesterday in amalgamation discussion, “Kitchener doesn’t let cats roam free, so I vote NO.” Alrighty then… ;->