Legacies of the Megacity: Toronto’s Amalgamation 20 Years Later

In 1998, Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower tier municipalities were amalgamated to form the City of Toronto. The decision to amalgamate was controversial then, and continues to be contentious to some today. Two decades later, what can we say about the megacity merger? Did it achieve its goals? Are Torontonians better served by one large government than the previous two-tier model? Looking forward, what lies ahead for regional governance in the GTHA?

This video features a panel discussion held on March 27, 2018, exploring the challenges and opportunities of the 1998 Toronto Amalgamation. Speakers include Shirley Hoy (former City Manager, City of Toronto), John Matheson (former Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing), Alexandra Flynn (Assistant Professor, University of Toronto), Zack Taylor (Assistant Professor, Western University), and Enid Slack (event moderator, Director, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance).