April 7, 2026 The government has put forward the Better Regional Governance Act, which, if approved, will bring several changes to how regional governments operate in Simcoe County, York Region, and other rapidly growing areas of Ontario. These adjustments aim to lower costs for municipal taxpayers and ensure a better match between regional decisions and shared provincial-regional goals. If approved, the Better Regional Governance Act would enable local leaders to make decisions more quickly, cut costs, and speed up housing and infrastructure projects. This act will enhance provincial-municipal coordination by permitting the Minister to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo, and York regions as well as the warden of Simcoe County. Under prior legislation, the Minister could only appoint chairs in Niagara, Peel, and York regions for the council term from 2022-2026. “Municipalities are key partners in our plan to protect Ontario. By strengthening our regional governance, we are empowering municipalities with stronger tools to respond more effectively and efficiently to the challenges they face in their communities.” Caroline Mulroney MPP for York-Simcoe Regional chairs in these eight municipalities will gain “strong chair” powers similar to “strong mayor” powers that allow for more effective local decision-making. This change will help them achieve quicker results for residents. The act will also reduce the sizes of upper-tier councils: At the request of the county warden, Simcoe County Council would shrink from 32 members down to 17. The new council would consist of mayors from each of the 16 lower-tier municipalities plus the warden. Niagara Regional Council would decrease from 32 members to just 13 members. The new structure would include mayors from all 12 lower-tier municipalities within Niagara along with the regional chair. All these changes aim to safeguard Ontario by better positioning these communities for growth while attracting investment and addressing rising demands for housing and infrastructure. Learn More: https://news. ontario. ca/en/release/1007252/ontario-introducing-legislation-to-strengthen-regional-governance
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