Port Colborne City Council is moving ahead with a plan that could reshape how residents get their water and sewer services, after reviewing a business case for a city-owned corporation at its June 23 meeting. The idea is to take over water and wastewater systems currently run by Niagara Region, with the goal of cutting costs and giving locals more say.
Mayor Bill Steele has been vocal about the need for change, pointing to duplication between the city and the region. “We need to be better as a government. We need to be more efficient and we need to stop the duplication,” he said, noting that the current setup dates back to 1970. Unlike most other Niagara communities, Port Colborne’s water system serves only its own residents. “We don’t feed anybody water, and we don’t take wastewater from any other municipality,” Steele added.
Residents have felt the pinch in their wallets. Water and wastewater bills jumped 8.89 percent in 2026, adding about $180 a year for a typical household. Before that hike, locals were already paying roughly $1,678 annually, about $403 more than the average across Niagara municipalities.
The push for a municipal services corporation got formal backing on April 28, when council approved next steps, including a business case and an expression of interest to the province. City of Port Colborne CAO Bryan Boles stressed that any new corporation would keep the assets publicly owned, with workers “continuing in the same roles, in the same facilities.” Community feedback from March showed residents strongly value local decision-making and want lower costs, but have little appetite for amalgamation.
Ontario’s Municipal Act allows such corporations, as long as they remain fully public. The business case examines the costs, risks, and benefits before any final decision is made.
