Government
The current mayor of Welland is Barry Sharpe. The Welland city council is made up of the mayor and 12 councillors, each elected in his or her ward. There are currently six wards in Welland, each of which elects two councillors. The mayor and two regional councillors, currently George Marshall and Peter Kormos, also represent the city on Niagara Regional Council.
The city is responsible for fire protection, libraries, parks and recreation and secondary streets, but many municipal services come instead from the broader level of government, the Niagara Region. Regional responsibilities include social welfare, community health, and policing through the Niagara Regional Police.
The chief local political issue is the redevelopment of the downtown core area, which has been deteriorating in the years following the Welland By-Pass project. The Civic Square project has been completed after spanning the terms of three city councils and three mayors. The new building, facing both East Main Street and the old canal, houses the city hall and the Welland Public Library. The project is proving to be a catalyst for development, as several new establishments have been opened downtown and some current business are expanding.
Welland is represented in the House of Commons of Canada by the NDP MP Malcolm Allen, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by the NDP MPP Cindy Forster, representing the federal and the provincial ridings of Welland.
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