Newmarket mayor sole vote against electing York Region’s chair

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 11, 2016
By Chris Simon

Most of Newmarket council wants York Region’s chairperson to be elected in 2018, with a notable exception for now.

In a 7-1 vote, council approved a resolution calling on the province to pass Bill 42 and allow for the election of the regional chair by general vote, during a meeting Monday night.

Mayor Tony Van Bynen voted against the motion, while Councillor Tom Hempen was absent from the meeting.

“I respect the position and the perspective of my colleagues; I support the direction, in principle,” Van Bynen said. “I can’t support the motion at this time. There will be a significant shift in the dynamics of the region and the balance that exists. It may well be a time to review how the chair is appointed or elected, but I believe it should be done in the context of reviewing the composition of the region. This question should be part of a larger review; we need to know the changes the province is contemplating.”

Van Bynen says the Ontario government is currently reviewing the governance framework of municipalities across the province. That includes the existing composition of York’s regional government. So, any decisions on the chair should only take place after the province announces its plan.

Newmarket council wants the move to be made in time for the 2018 municipal election.

Times have changed since the region and its chair selection process were established in 1971. The population was 169,000 back then, a number that has since ballooned to 1.2 million. The regional chair is now responsible for overseeing a $3-billion annual budget and a variety of services that range from roads and public transportation to public housing and emergency response, said Councillor Christina Bisanz, who introduced the motion.

“It was felt it wasn’t necessary to have an election to fill the position,” she said, calling the chair the “most important” political seat in the region. “Over 40 years later, the region continues to appoint rather than elect. The position is not advertised to the general public to inform them of the process or to possibly increase the number of qualified candidates. The majority of the region’s population is not aware of the significance of the position. The chair also represents the region on provincial, national and international fronts and sets the agenda at every (regional) council meeting.”

The chair is currently selected at the beginning of each term by a majority of 20 regional councillors.

Bill 42 has passed second reading in the provincial legislature and was referred to a standing committee for review. The Newmarket motion will be forwarded to Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McMeekin, opposition leaders, and all York MPPs and municipalities.

However, it also helps clearly define the town’s position ahead of a crucial debate on the matter, which is scheduled to take place at regional council Feb. 18.

York is one of only three regions in the province that does not elect a chair - the others are Peel and Niagara. Voters cast ballots for chairs in Durham, Halton and

Waterloo.

“Peel is currently considering change ahead of the 2018 election,” Bisanz said. “The public fully supports Bill 42 because it enhances the democratic process. Time is of the essence.”

During the debate, regional staff will also submit a report about undertaking a comprehensive review of governance in the region, along with proposed terms of reference for a study.

The review could look at the number, election and role of regional councillors in each municipality. At the moment, Markham has five, Vaughan has four, Richmond Hill has three, Newmarket and Georgina each have two and East Gwillimbury, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville and King each have one.

“There are pros and cons to both approaches,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “The pros far outweigh the cons. Some people will be concerned the south will gain a greater voice through this avenue - I think everyone will gain a greater voice. Others will be worried the chair will only focus on southern issues because the majority of votes come from the south. But the chair is only one vote. This north-south debate is a bit of a false construct. We need to focus more on the level of democracy that’s going to be enhanced. We’re looking at an incredible opportunity. (The) region is almost an invisible level of government; engagement isn’t as high as it is at the local level. Here’s an opportunity to have a vision put forward and to have it debated, discussed and analysed.”

Taylor ran for regional chair at the beginning of the current term, shortly after winning re-election in Newmarket. If he had earned the chair’s seat, a by-election would have been forced in Newmarket. However, direct election of the chair eliminates that uncertainty for lower-tier municipalities and residents, Councillor Dave Kerwin said.

“It could have happened this time around (in Newmarket),” he said. “It has happened. It’s the most important government ... It has an enormous debt it has to pay off. This job is crucial.”

Newmarket is the latest of York’s lower-tier municipalities to take an official stand on the issue. East Gwillimbury, Markham, Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville councils have also voted in favour of electing the York chair in recent months. With the exception of Stouffville, mayors in each of the respective municipalities have opposed their council’s motion.