BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR WITH AMALGAMATION TALKS

Recently, there has been discussion about amalgamating the three municipalities in Peel Region. For proponents and those open to the concept, the response of "be careful what you wish for" comes to mind. Right next door in Toronto, we have a living case of a forced amalgamation that demonstrates significant folly in this view.

In Toronto, the cultures and fiscal demands of the old suburbs (i.e. North York, Etobicoke) and older pre-1950 Toronto have never been reconciled and are constantly at odds.

Premier Ford's meddling and attempted fix by reducing the number of city councillors served only to reduce democratic representation and strengthen the more conservative suburban areas.

In Peel, there are three different municipalities with three diverse cultures and demographic makeups. It would be impossible to reconcile the largely rural culture and demographics of Caledon with urban and diverse Brampton and Mississauga.

Even between the latter sprawling cities, the cultures are different. To name one, Brampton was once a significant standalone town with a historic downtown to build around. Mississauga has no historic centre and its downtown, love it or hate it, was built around a shopping mall.

Fantasies of amalgamation belong to people (and politicians) who want fewer politicians (except themselves), downplay democratic representation and subscribe to the (unsubstantiated) belief that bigger is always cheaper and thus better. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to amalgamate the old Metro Toronto. However, to repeat this with Peel risks repeating a monumental folly.

PETER BERTOLLO