The Ontario government is planning to appoint regional chairs in the upcoming weeks, but no candidates have been selected yet, according to Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Flack shared this information during a housing announcement in Guelph on Friday, where he also mentioned that an elected mayor could take on the role of regional chair.
“Legally they can serve both roles, yes, but I have no comment as to whether one will be that or not because we’re in the middle of our due diligence on hiring who it will be or not be,” Flack said.
“Bottom line, yes, potentially, but not necessarily.”
Flack stated that the selection process for the next regional chairs is currently underway.
“We’ve had extensive applications in all eight regions, including Waterloo,” he noted. “We’re conducting a ministry-led hiring process. We’re in the middle of interviews.”
Flack added that his office will announce who all the chairs will be after the municipal election on October 26.
Regional chair was an elected position
In April, the province revealed it would appoint chairs to oversee councils in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Waterloo region and York along with the warden of Simcoe County. The province also currently appoints the chair in Niagara region.
Previously, these positions were filled through elections by local residents. A regional chair functions as the chief executive officer for their municipality. Regional council represents an upper-tier level of municipal governance.
For instance, in Waterloo region there are seven lower-tier municipalities: three cities and four townships. The mayors from those lower-tier municipalities sit on regional council along with elected regional councillors from those three cities.
The province plans to grant appointed regional chairs strong powers similar to those held by strong mayors in some areas.
WATCH | Minister Flack offers more details about the process in June :
Minister provides more details on how regional chairs will be appointed
The Ontario government is set to appoint chairs for eight regional municipalities this fall. During a press conference on Tuesday, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack provided further details about this process. Flack indicated that people can apply for these positions and emphasized that they are seeking candidates with electoral experience within their communities.
Karen Redman, Chair of Region of Waterloo, stated shortly after April’s announcement from the province that she remains “focused” on her responsibilities even while changes loom over her position.
At that time Redman expressed pride for being elected twice as regional chair by her community.
In August Redman told she has applied for the job.
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