This fall, the Ontario government plans to appoint chairs for eight regional municipalities, following or around the municipal election in October.
Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack provided more information about the appointment process during a media conference in Scarborough on Wednesday morning.
“People that are interested in serving as regional chairs are welcome to apply for the job,” Flack said.
He mentioned there will be some criteria – “not too onerous” – that applicants must meet. This includes having elected experience in the area where they intend to serve and demonstrating “leadership skills.”
“I think we’re looking for strong leadership and I’ve had a lot of great interest thus far in all the regions, all eight regions, that we’ll be appointing chairs,” he said.
He confirmed that chairs would not be appointed before the municipal election on Oct. 27.
“We’re going to wait until after, or close, or there in about to appoint them,” he said.
All eight regional chairs will be announced simultaneously.
“We have our time to do our due diligence, listen, learn, interview and choose the right candidate, the best candidate to help lead these regions,” Flack said.
Flack did not provide details about how one can apply for this position or where the criteria can be found. CBC Kitchener-Waterloo has contacted Flack’s office for clarification.
</pp “They have no idea what I do,” he stated.
</pp The number of seats on Niagara’s regional council is set to decrease from 32 down to 13.
</pp N Niagara Centre New Democrat MPP Jeff Burch raised doubts about whether it’s appropriate for provinces to appoint chairs after controversies surrounding former Niagara chair Bob Gale resigned suddenly last March due to pressure from anti-racism groups demanding an apology over his ownership of Adolf Hitler’s infamous manifesto Mein Kampf.
</pp Burch remarked “[Gale] threw the region into chaos in only two months.” He added: “Calling it a shit show is polite.”</pp Flack responded stating future chairs will be selected based on their track record as “proven leaders” through a process considering “merit, experience and integrity”, overseen by Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner.. This ensures those appointed are credible qualified individuals capable enough.”
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Concerns Raised Over Appointment Process
The province revealed in April that it would appoint chairs for councils in several regional municipalities including Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Waterloo and York as well as naming a warden for Simcoe County. The province currently also appoints the chair of Niagara. This new approach would grant these regional chairs significant powers similar to those held by strong mayors. The province believes these powers help local governments expedite housing projects while allowing mayors to draft and present budgets. In April, Flack stated that this decision is essential for achieving “effective government” and aims at “getting politicians out of the way.” Lindsay Jones, executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, expressed her concerns regarding these strong chair powers when she spoke with in May, labeling them “fundamentally undemocratic.” “It results in a situation where you have an unelected chair who is able to essentially overrule the voices of democratically elected regional councillors,” she said.‘They Don’t Understand My Role,’ Says Durham Chair
This initiative has drawn criticism from politicians within Niagara, Durham and Waterloo regions. Coun. Doug Craig from Waterloo Region voiced his thoughts back in April saying he believed this move would “diminish local democracy.” “This is not going to improve anything,” Craig said.</pp Regional Chair Karen Redman from Waterloo stated after April’s announcement that she’s “proud to have been elected twice” by her community and remains focused on her responsibilities.</pp She hasn’t made it clear if she’ll run again for regional council or apply again as regional chair.</pp Durham Chair John Henry has been serving since being elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022; he shared his disagreement with this change saying “I believe truly in my heart that the public deserves elections.”</pp Henry further questioned whether provincial officials understand what his role entails.</pp “They have no idea what I do,” he stated.
</pp The number of seats on Niagara’s regional council is set to decrease from 32 down to 13.
</pp N Niagara Centre New Democrat MPP Jeff Burch raised doubts about whether it’s appropriate for provinces to appoint chairs after controversies surrounding former Niagara chair Bob Gale resigned suddenly last March due to pressure from anti-racism groups demanding an apology over his ownership of Adolf Hitler’s infamous manifesto Mein Kampf.
</pp Burch remarked “[Gale] threw the region into chaos in only two months.” He added: “Calling it a shit show is polite.”</pp Flack responded stating future chairs will be selected based on their track record as “proven leaders” through a process considering “merit, experience and integrity”, overseen by Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner.. This ensures those appointed are credible qualified individuals capable enough.”
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