Ontario's Regional Chairs Plan Sparks Democracy Debate

Ontario's 444 municipalities are publicly opposing Doug Ford's plan to appoint regional chairs instead of having voters or councillors elect them.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario released a letter Thursday saying the move undermines local democracy and accountability. AMO president Robin Jones, who is also mayor of Westport, Ont., said the organization rarely takes such public stands — but the volume of member complaints forced the decision.

"In the two years I've been president, I have never heard from that many municipalities, because it's the principle that we really feel is so wrong, is so undemocratic," Jones said.

The province passed Bill 100, the Better Regional Governance Act, last month. It will let the government appoint chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Waterloo, York and Niagara, plus Simcoe County's warden. Those chairs will get "strong chair" powers — control over budgets, appointments, some hiring and firing, and veto power over council votes.

Before the bill, regional chairs were either directly elected, elected by sitting councillors, or appointed by the province depending on the region. Ford defended the appointments Thursday, saying previous governments appointed chairs too and that he's selected people from different political parties. He pointed to former Niagara Region chair Jim Bradley, a longtime Liberal MPP and cabinet minister.

AMO is concerned about whether appointed chairs will feel loyal to Queen's Park instead of their communities, and whether they'll have the experience for such a complex leadership role. "The job of head of council, regional chair is not an entry-level position," Jones said.