Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Municipality, Ontario
Encyclopedia
The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was proclaimed by the Progressive Conservative
government of Ontario
on January 1, 1974 (with legislation being passed the previous year).
Regional municipalities were an experiment in two-tier municipalities created from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. They existed mainly in the Golden Horseshoe
of southern Ontario
, but also in the Regional Municipality of Sudbury in northern Ontario
and the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
in eastern Ontario). It proved somewhat controversial and the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was one of the last created by this process. Almost from its creation, some sort of merger was advocated, with "Wentworth" among the candidates for the new megacity.
The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth upper-tier municipality comprised the bulk of the former Wentworth County
which it replaced. Its lower-tier municipalities were, in order of population, the city of Hamilton
, the town (later city) of Stoney Creek
, the town of Ancaster
, the town of Flamborough
, the town of Dundas
and the township of Glanbrook
.
The region provided police services, public transit and social services, while the lower-tier provided fire services and recreation services. Both shared responsibility for roads and water.
It was governed by a regional chair who presided over a regional council with representatives of each of Hamilton's wards and two each from other constituent municipalities. Near the end of its existence, the regional chair was chosen by direct election.
A different Progressive Conservative government amalgamated all of H-W's constituent municipalities into the larger single-tier city of Hamilton in 2001, against great opposition from its suburban and rural parts. This was part of a broader series of municipal reorganizations of urban and rural Ontario, which also affected the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
, the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Chatham-Kent and Prince Edward County
, among many others.
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
on January 1, 1974 (with legislation being passed the previous year).
Regional municipalities were an experiment in two-tier municipalities created from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. They existed mainly in the Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horseshoe
The Golden Horseshoe is a densely populated and industrialized region centred around the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. Most of it is also part of the Quebec City...
of southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, but also in the Regional Municipality of Sudbury in northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
and the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
The Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton was a regional government area and census division in Ontario, Canada which existed from 1969 until 2001...
in eastern Ontario). It proved somewhat controversial and the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was one of the last created by this process. Almost from its creation, some sort of merger was advocated, with "Wentworth" among the candidates for the new megacity.
The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth upper-tier municipality comprised the bulk of the former Wentworth County
Wentworth County, Ontario
Wentworth County, area , is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1816 as part of the Gore District in what was then Upper Canada and later Canada West...
which it replaced. Its lower-tier municipalities were, in order of population, the city of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, the town (later city) of Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
, the town of Ancaster
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
, the town of Flamborough
Flamborough, Ontario
Flamborough is a former town near, and a current community in, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada....
, the town of Dundas
Dundas, Ontario
Dundas is a formerly independent town and now constituent community in the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. It's nickname is the Valley Town. The population has been stable for decades at about twenty thousand, largely because it has not annexed rural land from the protected Dundas Valley...
and the township of Glanbrook
Glanbrook Township, Ontario
Glanbrook was a rural township of about 10,000 inhabitants south of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with which it was amalgamated in 2001. Unlike the other municipalities which became part of the new city of Hamilton, Glanbrook lacked a sense of common identity....
.
The region provided police services, public transit and social services, while the lower-tier provided fire services and recreation services. Both shared responsibility for roads and water.
It was governed by a regional chair who presided over a regional council with representatives of each of Hamilton's wards and two each from other constituent municipalities. Near the end of its existence, the regional chair was chosen by direct election.
A different Progressive Conservative government amalgamated all of H-W's constituent municipalities into the larger single-tier city of Hamilton in 2001, against great opposition from its suburban and rural parts. This was part of a broader series of municipal reorganizations of urban and rural Ontario, which also affected the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Chatham-Kent and Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
, among many others.