Newmarket councillor calls for election of York Region chairperson

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 5, 2016
by Chris Simon

Residents should elect York Region's chairperson beginning in 2018, says a member of Newmarket council.

Ward 7 Councillor Christina Bisanz will introduce a motion during Monday night's town council meeting, which calls on the province to pass Bill 42 and allow for the election of the regional chair by general vote. That vote would take place in the next municipal election, scheduled for 2018.

Bill 42 has passed second reading in the provincial legislature and was referred to a standing committee for review.

Times have changed since the region was 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.

The chair, arguably the region’s most powerful political position, is currently selected at the beginning of each term by a majority of 20 regional councillors.

"Newmarket is committed to transparency and accountability in government," Bisanz says in the motion. "The current process of appointment deprives residents of an opportunity to participate in a democratic process of electing a senior government official."

If the motion is approved and endorsed by town council, it will be forwarded to Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McMeekin, opposition leaders, and all York MPPs and municipalities.

The issue will also be brought up at regional council Feb. 18, when a staff report on the chair selection process in other regions will be presented. Voters elect chairs in Durham, Halton and Waterloo.

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.