Cambridge councillor Ermeta wants to talk amalgamation with Flamborough in 2019

Cambridge Coun. Nicholas Ermeta says he plans to hold meetings in Flamborough in the early part of next year to talk about a possible amalgamation.

Flamborough is currently part of Hamilton, but Ermeta says he wants to annex it so it can join Cambridge instead. He raised the issue during the October municipal election campaign.

• Councillor wants Flamborough to leave Hamilton, join Cambridge

He says he's had informal talks with his council colleagues about the issue.

"Everyone has an open mind but it comes down to the details," he said in an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

He wants to meet with residents in Flamborough to get their feedback before making any kind of motion at council.

"Then I can take that back to Cambridge council and we can come up with a proposal which we could pass as a resolution to the province and the province would make the change if it all worked out well," he said.

'Daffy' idea: Hamilton mayor

During the campaign, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger called the idea "daffy."

"Surely there are more pressing issues in Cambridge that needs to be taken care off [sic]," he tweeted.

Ermeta says he has not approached Eisenberger with his idea and he expects resistance from Hamilton.

"I don't think Hamilton's going to agree to it so I think the province is going to have to be the one to make the decision," he said.

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Hamilton Coun. Arlene VanderBeek, whose ward will include Flamboroughafter the Ontario Municipal Board boundary changes come into effect in December, said she hadn't heard of Ermeta's plan before Wednesday and she has "no reason to think that there is any merit to it, other than political conjecture."

"I personally doubt that any further changes would be considered in the near future," she said.

"Ultimately any such change to city boundaries would involve the province, as all municipalities exist at the discretion of the provincial government."

Ermeta agreed, saying "the blessing of the province will be what counts."