Amalgamation

[tomh009]

Cambridge because of the 401, and is relatively a newer name (1973). It also might be the only thing to get Cambridge onboard.

If the province forces amalgamation, it won't really matter whether Cambridge is on board or not.

[tomh009]

The airlines refer to Kitchener only. If you try to enter Waterloo into a search in Expedia or Travelocity you won't find it. You will find Waterloo, Iowa. The signs at the airport in Calgary say Kitchener. It used to be the same in Chicago.

That made me want to remind myself what the airport is actually called. According to their website, they are the “Region of Waterloo International Airport”. So the airlines are wrong and should start calling the airport by its correct name. Did it used to be called “Kitchener”? I note that the YKF code appears to be based on “Kitchener”, although I don’t know where the “F” comes from.

It was originally the Kitchener-Waterloo Municipal Airport. But most likely KF was the code for the local radio transmitter tower before the airport codes were assigned (YZ was Malton, UL was St Hubert etc).

[Spokes]

Cambridge because of the 401, and is relatively a newer name (1973). It also might be the only thing to get Cambridge onboard.

If the province forces amalgamation, it won't really matter whether Cambridge is on board or not.

Or anyone for that matter.  For many people will still be from Kitchener, or Waterloo or Cambridge, the same way people still say they're from Preston, Galt or Hespeler.

[MidTowner]

I think a very good case can be made for amalgamation here. I also don't think it's a foregone conclusion. If anyone has any evidence of the current government or anyone in particular in the current government having it out for regional municipalities, I'd be curious about that.

I really do think that this is a case of the political bent of the government of the day making them naturally suspicious of a situation in which parts of the province have to operate with additional levels of government. But I also think that's fair: is it likely that, without a review, all of the Regional Municipalities are currently operating in exactly the areas they ought to be?

So, while I know this prediction is not as interesting as the conspiracy theories, and would not make as good a headline as the Record editorial, I bet the result of the review will be that some lower-tier municipalities are amalgamated, some Regional Municipalities are given added responsibilities or directed to negotiate added responsibilities, and perhaps one or more are dissolved.

This is an interesting idea.  I'd be curious how they would justify a some but not all amalgamation plan.  Did you have something specific in mind?

Well, it's entirely possible that Kitchener and Waterloo be amalgamated without the rest of the region, and that some other redistribution of responsibilities between the new lower tier municipalities and the higher tier happen. Their justification? I don't know: "We drove down to KW and didn't even notice the border. Does it make sense to have 19 politicians riding on the gravy train when Windsor gets by fine with 11? But we've found Wellesley is a distinct society and the people need continued local representation."

That seems thinkable in some of the other regional municipalities, too- not that Muskoka or Niagara Regional Municipalities (for instance) are eliminated, but that "efficiencies" are found by amalgamating a few of their lower tiers.

Maybe Mississauga and Brampton will be amalgamated. Mississauga wants out of Peel, and Ford wants the mayor of Brampton to lose his job.

[ijmorlan]

That made me want to remind myself what the airport is actually called. According to their website, they are the “Region of Waterloo International Airport”. So the airlines are wrong and should start calling the airport by its correct name. Did it used to be called “Kitchener”? I note that the YKF code appears to be based on “Kitchener”, although I don’t know where the “F” comes from.

 
The airlines call Toronto Toronto on their signs in airports all over the world, even though it is called Pearson International Airport by us.

That just proves my point, because the actual name of the airport is either “Toronto Pearson” or “Toronto Pearson International Airport”:

https://www.torontopearson.com/

I’m not sure if the “International Airport” is part of the name or just a description.

The equivalent for our airport would be calling it just “Waterloo”, although obviously mentioning the ON and CA bits is necessary. So I would call it “Waterloo ON” within Canada and something that mentions Canada and probably also Ontario outside of Canada.

[ijmorlan]

… Ford wants the mayor of Brampton to lose his job.

And the fact that this is a believable motivation is an example of why Ford is not just a politician with whom I have some political disagreements, but an objectively bad premier and a nincompoop.

[danbrotherston]

… Ford wants the mayor of Brampton to lose his job.

And the fact that this is a believable motivation is an example of why Ford is not just a politician with whom I have some political disagreements, but an objectively bad premier and a nincompoop.

I don't think I've ever seen the word nincompoop written.

[tomh009]

It was originally the Kitchener-Waterloo Municipal Airport. But most likely KF was the code for the local radio transmitter tower before the airport codes were assigned (YZ was Malton, UL was St Hubert etc).

It was originally Waterloo-Wellington Airport.

[tomh009]

Well, it's entirely possible that Kitchener and Waterloo be amalgamated without the rest of the region, and that some other redistribution of responsibilities between the new lower tier municipalities and the higher tier happen. Their justification? I don't know: "We drove down to KW and didn't even notice the border. Does it make sense to have 19 politicians riding on the gravy train when Windsor gets by fine with 11? But we've found Wellesley is a distinct society and the people need continued local representation."

The number of townships could also be reduced -- maybe it could be two instead of four?

[Spokes]

I think the townships are going to be a big point of debate. I fear it will be an us vs them situation. I hope it doesn't come down like that

[tomh009]

Amalgamating townships with each other would likely be less contentious than amalgamating them with cities. Woolwich and Wilmot, for example, are not all that different in character, not are Wellesley and North Dumfries.

[danbrotherston]

What would the savings even be then? They're a pretty big geographic area already and IIRC only have like 3 or 4 wards each right?

You'll just end up with a more bureaucratic system, with no real savings.

[ijmorlan]

And the fact that this is a believable motivation is an example of why Ford is not just a politician with whom I have some political disagreements, but an objectively bad premier and a nincompoop.

I don't think I've ever seen the word nincompoop written.

It doesn’t come up that often. Most formal style guides frown on the word. But ever since Rob Ford became Mayor of Toronto I’ve found it useful from time to time.

[tomh009]

That looks like the old K-W Airport on a grass strip on Lexington Road in Waterloo.
https://www.therecord.com/living-story/2...t-stories/

That's right. And it would have had the same airport code already.

[KevinL]

Whoever was asking why YKF, that postcard illustrates it well with its verdant lawn... Kitchener Field.