Brant County Staunchly Opposes Amalgamation Amid Tensions with Brantford

The County of Brant has firmly rejected the prospect of amalgamation with the City of Brantford, following a proposal by Brantford´s Mayor, Kevin Davis, to commission a fact-based study on the financial benefits of merging the two municipalities.

The County issued a detailed statement to BranBlog.ca on the matter, emphasizing its unwavering opposition to amalgamation and addressing what it claims are inaccuracies in Mayor Davis’ assertions.

In remarks made during Brantford’s Committee of the Whole, Planning and Administration meeting on December 10, 2024, Davis announced his intention to use his strong mayoral powers to initiate a study that would examine the costs and benefits of amalgamation. The County of Brant, however, was quick to respond, characterizing Davis’ comments as misleading and reaffirming its commitment to maintaining its independence.

“Let us first state upfront, that the County of Brant is unequivocally opposed to amalgamation with the City of Brantford,” the statement read. It went on to challenge the factual basis of Davis’ claims, noting a history of collaboration between the two municipalities in areas such as social services, paramedics, and economic development.

The statement also criticized the newly formed Joint Services Committee, a body created in 2023 to explore collaborative opportunities, as ineffective. The County alleges that one of the committee’s initial proposals involved expropriating County land to address Brantford’s transportation challenges—a motion the County claims was at odds with earlier assurances that the committee would not address land acquisition or amalgamation.

“The County of Brant felt strongly that the format and tone of the newly formed Joint Services Committee was not the most efficient format to accomplish our respective goals,” the statement continued. The County proposed replacing the committee with ad-hoc staff working groups, which it claims have been productive.

As an example, the County pointed to progress on a new cross-boundary public transit proposal developed throughout 2024 by municipal staff. The County insists that its approach to joint services remains rooted in three principles: common interest, mutual benefit, and cost-effectiveness.

Mayor David Bailey was particularly vocal in his criticism of Davis, accusing the Brantford mayor of using bullying tactics. “Because we have refused a request to give them something, does not mean they can just come along and take it,” Bailey said. “We have our challenges and problems like any community, but all the wonderful aspects of the County to be celebrated far outshine those issues. We will not allow the City to continually impose their negativity on us.”

The County also took aim at Davis’ comments about the new regional hospital project, dismissing claims that the project was jeopardized by a lack of County cooperation. “A new hospital has and will remain, a top priority for the County of Brant, and we are fully committed to doing anything in our power to make it a reality,” the statement asserted.

Despite the sharp tone, the County expressed its willingness to continue working with Brantford and other regional partners. “We remain open to fair and transparent dialogue with the City of Brantford as one of our partner municipalities,” the statement concluded.

BrantBlog.ca attempted to contact the City of Brantford’s communications department for a response but has not received a reply at the time of publication.

Amalgamation remains a contentious issue between the two municipalities, with each side presenting starkly different visions for regional collaboration. While Brantford pushes for a study to justify potential consolidation, Brant insists that such discussions are premature and fundamentally unwelcome. For now, the future of the two municipalities appear set on diverging paths, with little sign of consensus on the horizon.