The chair of Niagara Region resigned less than nine hours after he was accused of purchasing a signed copy of Adolf Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf,” which one anti-racism advocate who levelled the allegation against him said he didn’t see coming so quickly.
“It was as much of a shock as it was to find out that he owns this notorious piece of antisemitic literature that’s been behind the Holocaust and World War II. It was as much of a relief that he resigned, but it was unexpected that it would happen before even dinner time,” Saleh Waziruddin told CTV News on Thursday.
Waziruddin is an executive committee member of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA), one of two groups that made the allegation against Bob Gale Wednesday hours before he resigned. Waziruddin said a whistleblower made the discovery of Gale’s alleged purchase “relatively recently.”
Gale, who was appointed as the chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara by the province last year, did not confirm nor deny owning the book in his resignation letter.
“Today, a member of the communist party circulated a dated document that listed my name as the owner of a historical book found in many libraries,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack, who appointed Gale in December 2025, announcing that his resignation was “effective immediately.”
According to documents viewed but not authenticated by CTV News, the copy of Hitler’s autobiographical and political manifesto was allegedly purchased by Gale in 2010 for $6,345 and then authenticated in 2018 and appraised at a value of $16,000.
Gale described himself as a “passionate historian with a broad collection of historical art and artifacts” in his resignation letter, as he detailed the other pieces in his collection, which also features an 1859 letter from anti-slavery advocate John Brown, as well as letters from George Washington, Winston Churchill and Vatican archives.
But Waziruddin said Gale’s alleged ownership of “Mein Kampf” can’t be justified.
“This is harmful material. It can’t be seen as separated from the harm. It can’t be seen as just a historical artifact of just curiosity,” he said.
Laura Ip, a regional councillor representing St. Catharines, echoed Waziruddin’s remarks and said the only organization that has any “valid reason” to own an original signed copy of Hitler’s book is a museum.
“And Bob Gale is not a museum,” she said during an interview with CTV News Toronto on Thursday. “I think going out of your way to purchase, for thousands of dollars, an original signed copy of Hitler’s manifesto, and then going further out of your way to authenticate that Hitler’s signature is, in fact, Hitler’s signature, is a problem.”
Resignation follows pitch to amalgamate
Gale proposed a possible amalgamation of municipalities in the Niagara Region last month as part of governance reform, but later backed away from the idea. The chair initially stated in a letter to Niagara mayors that there were too many elected officials and tax increases were too high.
He hinted at that effort in his resignation letter, saying that when he undertook the “necessary work” to start fixing the issues at Niagara Region, “there was a strong vocal minority who decided they would stop at nothing in order to keep their fiefdoms and addiction to power and tax dollars.”
“I hope that you will continue this path in support of taxpayers,” he wrote in closing.
Coun. Rob Foster to serve as acting chair
In an update, the regional chair’s office said a regional bylaw dictates how temporary absences are handled, including a rotating list of acting chairs to fill the position. Lincoln Coun. Rob Foster has been tapped to serve as acting chair for the month of March.
“Niagara Region will continue to work with the Province regarding any next steps and actions related to the Office of the Regional Chair.”
The NRARA and Justice 4 Black Lives Niagara (J4BL), the other group involved in making the allegations against Gale, are now asking him to destroy the book.
A statement from Minister Flack’s office stated that he has accepted Gale’s resignation.
“Our government will continue to work with local leadership to identify policies to strengthen the Niagara Region. Any decision on the future of governance of the region will be one guided by and made by the people of Niagara,” the statement read.
‘Quite surprised,’ Niagara Falls mayor on Gale’s resignation
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati told reporters on Thursday that Gale called him last night to inform him about his decision to step down.
“It felt like a punch to the gut. I was quite surprised, and it’s sad,” Diodati said, recounting that Gale mentioned he made the decision himself to resign, as “this is being received the wrong way.”
The mayor shared that the local rabbi and his wife, whom he called for “insight” on the matter, told him that Gale is a friend of the Jewish community and not antisemitic.
“They didn’t see the major concern that some others did. They said this book exists in libraries and museums. It’s all over the world in many languages. And we all agreed that if you don’t study history, you’re doomed to repeat it,” Diodati said.
“So, a lot of people were wondering what it was all about exactly. Because Bob Gale is a good person. He’s generous. He gives to the community.”
When asked if he thinks it’s a problem to own a signed copy of the book, the Niagara Falls mayor reiterated that Gale is a collector.
“A lot of people collect a lot of things. Some people collect weird things. I mean, people go watch movies about (serial killers) Jeffrey Dahmer or Paul Bernardo. Why do we make movies about things like that? I mean, people are entitled to do what they do,” Diodati said.
“And I took my direction from the rabbi and his wife, because I figured who better to get insight than them? And they weren’t concerned about it. They didn’t understand what all the issue was around it. And I feel he’s not anybody that has any hatred ideology whatsoever. He’s a historical collector. That’s what he is.”
Diodati claimed that there are some individuals who did not like Gale’s work on governance reform in Niagara and wanted to stop him.
“Bob made a decision that he would take one for the team and he would step away because he was concerned he’d be a distraction for the good work that’s being done,” the mayor said.
“So, you know, he fell on his sword on this one so that things could continue to move forward.”
Diodati said the region is in serious financial trouble, with an infrastructure deficit of $2.7 billion.
“If we don’t do something now, we’re doomed,” the mayor said.
“We’re doomed with double-digit increases for the foreseeable future. People think it’s unaffordable today. It’s going to get much worse if we don’t do something.”
While governance reform has hit a snag with Gale’s resignation, Diodati believes that the region will continue the work.
“We need to make some tough decisions today, and I believe it has to move forward. We don’t have any choice,” he said.
With files from Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Siobhan Morris
