Attitudes of Windsorites toward the concept of municipal amalgamation with regard to public choice and consolidationist theoretical perspectives of municipal governance

The Ontario Progressive Conservative government of the 1990s implemented an administrative policy of municipal consolidation throughout the province of Ontario, as many other provinces did throughout Canada. Amalgamating cities, townships, and villages into larger municipalities, the government vowed to decrease municipal spending and create less government, while maintaining citizen satisfaction in the delivery of municipal services and access to local government. While not all newly consolidated municipalities rallied in favour of this new measure, most citizens polled in post-amalgamation studies preferred the new municipal structure. Two prominent theoretical models provide the framework for debate on municipal governance. The public choice model suggests that citizens are like consumers, and they will choose to reside in the municipality that offers them the best municipal taxation and service package. The consolidationist model, however, suggests a larger municipality is best. One where the economies of scale work to the economic benefit of citizens, and the political system is more accountable and transparent. Newly amalgamated municipalities, such as Chatham-Kent (among others), have illustrated the success of the consolidationist approach. However, the policy of municipal consolidation did not extend to the City of Windsor and surrounding towns and municipalities; they remain separate to this day. This study seeks to assess Windsor residents on their preferences regarding municipal amalgamation. Gathering public opinion on the proposition of an amalgamated Windsor and surrounding territory, a survey conducted on a sample group of Windsorites will discern if Windsor citizens prefer the status of municipalities as they are, or if they believe municipal services and political access would improve under municipal consolidation. A mall intercept survey was conducted, using a sample of 137 Windsor residents from among the five wards. Surveys were administered at municipal centres, in attempt to survey those residents with some base knowledge of the municipality. This paper considers the preference of Windsor residents towards municipal amalgamation with surrounding municipalities. Based on previous studies on consolidationism purporting the benefits of municipal amalgamation, it is expected that Windsor residents would likely take a consolidationist stance on municipal governance, supporting a hypothetical concept of municipal amalgamation with surrounding municipalities.