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Shared services

Niagara’s Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and staff have been pursuing shared services in varying capacities for a number of years to make services and processes more seamless, cost-effective and efficient for residents and business. Over 200 existing shared services have been identified between and among the Region and Area Municipalities. 

The Partnerships and Communication division:

  • Supports the delivery of Regional Council's priority objectives with a focus on shared services
  • Works to deliver projects that result in more efficient conduct of Regional business and service delivery for Niagara

Focus areas

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Finding more opportunities to share services between Niagara's municipalities and / or Niagara Region

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Identifying areas to improve government efficiency and effectiveness

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Exploring all prospects for joint procurement

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Identifying ways to improve administrative resiliency while ensuring that service levels are maintained or improved for Niagara residents

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Developing the framework and criteria for evaluating and prioritizing shared service opportunities

Guiding principles

All work on shared services has four underlying principles established by the Area Chief Administrative Officers Shared Services Working Group:

  • Serving the public good
  • Increasing efficiency and effectiveness
  • Improving customer service
  • Coordinating use of resourcing and staffing

These principles will be applied when exploring, evaluating and implementing shared service initiatives.

Success highlights

2025

  • Implemented more consistent templates, standardized the customer feedback process, and created a central repository for information sharing for building departments
  • Facilitated joint procurements for consultants to complete legislatively required action plans and audits, such as asset management plan updates, energy conversation and demand management plans, and climate action plans
  • Enhanced inter-departmental working groups with a focus on key topics
  • Awarded nine joint procurements and executed four shared service agreements

  • Commenced work on five new initiatives as prioritized by the Area CAOs, including a Building Services Review, Joint Procurement, and policy alignments for climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion, and accessibility

  • Established a planning service agreement tailored to each participating municipality as a result of Bill 23
  • Amalgamated transit services and launched Niagara Transit Commission in January 2023

  • Coordinated the merging of Lincoln and Pelham library systems
  • Completed joint request for proposal to procure e-voting system for the 2022 election

  • Established the Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services (between Grimsby and Lincoln)
  • Completed joint request for proposal between Grimsby and Niagara-on-the-Lake for animal care and control services

  • Formed a Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee between the municipalities of Thorold, Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham and West Lincoln

  • Established a Joint Compliance Audit Committee between Niagara Region, area municipalities, the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board
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Communities of practice

Communities of practice have been established for Asset Management, Clerks, Climate Change, Cyber Security, Economic Development, Finance, Human Resources and Public Works. These communities collaborate and share best practices with staff counterparts at the Region and local area municipalities.

About shared services

A shared service structure aims to bring together resources, functions, processes and skills from different groups to:

  • Create economies of scale
  • Increase standardization
  • Pool skill sets
  • Generate the critical mass required to yield a positive return

Types of shared services

Informal: Networking and information sharing

  • Examples include networking groups, discussion groups and communities of practice / working groups

Semi-formal: Partnerships and collaboration

  • Examples include memorandums of understanding, joint initiatives and / or procurements, and shared resources

Formal: Shared service delivery

  • Examples include program oversight through a joint board of management, service level agreements, pooled resources and process ownership end-to-end

Shared services opportunities are being explored between Niagara's twelve municipalities and / or Niagara Region.

The Niagara Public Purchasing Committee is a cooperating purchasing group of over 30 agencies, both public sector and broader public sector. These agencies work together to promote efficiency, economy, and effectiveness in the purchasing management field and conduct co-operative purchases to maximize value for all municipal taxpayers.

A successful shared service implementation can result in:

  • Cost efficiency and economies of scale
  • Efficient customer service
  • Improved service delivery
  • Increased municipal capacity

Not all shared services result in cost savings. Other benefits may include improved consistency, reduced risk, modernization, and increased service sustainability.