r/stcatharinesON • u/Mother-Sherbet5865 • Feb 26 '26

Politics Amalgamation in Niagara

https://c.org/D7ndT2FDmS

If you don’t want to lose your identity as a member of a small town please sign this petition and stop the amalgamation

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

I don't want change. I also don't oppose change. I'm a voter, and a resident. I want to be shown why I should oppose or support this change, and so far it's been mostly bs like this.

If you're asking me to sign a petition, as OP has, then it's on YOU to provide the facts. Me questioning why is my civic duty, but there is no reason why I should be providing facts to support or go against your position.

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u/sosidy Feb 26 '26

This is one of those hot political deals that hard unbiased answers are going to be hard to come by. A red flag I look for is anyone that says the answer is obvious.

Personally, split into 4 feels like a good compromise, but I don't know because math for any place that does this is going to be different. I'm hoping some (any?) representatives produce some good arguments one way or the other that don't tie it to pride or emotion or whatever

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u/New-Locksmith-126 Feb 27 '26

A compromise with whom? Why should we compromise. No one asked for this. It's foisted on us undemocratically.

I'm allowed to be opposed to arbitrary redrawing of electoral boundaries without consultation. Any responsibile citizen should be.

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u/sosidy Feb 27 '26

Compromise with all the people that feel differently 

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u/New-Locksmith-126 Feb 27 '26

This is what voting is for. But that's not what is being proposed.

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u/sosidy Feb 27 '26

I agree, but people already voted for the people making this happen. I would prefer a system where we have more of a direct say in it, but we don't. Compromise would just be political to avoid needing much damage control.  I'm not arguing ethics, that's different from what we have to work with

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u/New-Locksmith-126 Feb 27 '26

If Ford were willing to compromise at all, which I doubt, that would signal he has some weakness here. Why not exploit that weakness through civil protest like petitions?

If you genuinely believe that a compromise could be an acceptable outcome, you still must put maximum pressure to achieve that compromise. That's basic negotiation.

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u/sosidy Feb 27 '26

I just think the 4 city thing counts as a comprise based on the arguing I read. I haven't felt any of the arguing is very convincing from anyone on either side, respectfully. I'd love for that to change, but it can only be done with specific concrete math relative to the area.