As Ontario begins one other provincial election, the Township of Arran-Elderslie is already wanting forward at potential adjustments for its subsequent election in 2026.
The Township will conduct group engagement subsequent month to assist decide whether or not it ought to preserve the present five-ward system, or transfer to 1 the place councillors are elected at-large.
Clerks on Name, a municipal administration consulting group, was introduced on to run the group engagement and current their findings to council.
Advisor Michelle Casavecchia-Somers informed council they will do their finest to gather as a lot suggestions as potential, however in the end the decision can be as much as them.
“I do not assume that we have established what the minimal participation fee is to tell council,” she mentioned. “We attempt to solicit as a lot suggestions as we are able to get and generally we get a variety of suggestions and generally we do not, and in order a member of council you are tasked with making a call with the knowledge you are given.”
Councillor Peter Steinacker questioned whether or not voting on this could be a battle of curiosity, because the ward system was how they had been all elected.
Advisor Michelle Smibert mentioned this was in the end council’s name.
“The Municipal Act really specifies that it is the present council that decides what is going on to occur transferring ahead,” she mentioned. “I perceive how there’s that perceived battle, however as a result of the method to set out the construction, you really must go a bylaw and it is solely council that may go that bylaw.”
Step one is group engagement, which can run all through February and have surveys and open homes. On-line surveys can be obtainable all through the month, and exhausting copies could be collected from municipal buildings all through the Township.
A report with the findings can be introduced again to council this spring.
Any adjustments should be made earlier than the top of the yr to be in impact for the 2026 municipal election.
