Mount Albert residents call for a ward system in East Gwillimbury

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 27, 2016
By Simon Martin

The 2014 municipal election left Mount Albert without a resident at the East Gwillimbury council table. Judging from the first electoral review meeting held at the Ross Family Complex in Mount Albert Sept. 27, the few Mount Albert residents that bothered to attend are ready for that to end.  There was unanimous support from the six residents in the room for a ward system that would guarantee the community had representation.

The electoral review the town is currently undertaking is looking into using ward-based system, using ranked ballots in municipal elections, increasing the size of council and electing a deputy mayor.

Before 2014, Cathy Morton had served as the “defacto” Mount Albert ward councillor, sitting on council since 2000. Her absence has left a void that hasn’t been filled for some residents.

“I don’t know the other councillors. I knew Cathy and I called her,” resident Peggy Walsey said.

While Mount Albert technically has four councillors who represent them in the current at-large system, resident Melody Somerville said it doesn’t feel that way. “I think people just want someone to go to complain to. They don’t know which of the four to call.”

Steve Woolridge was one of four Mount Albert residents who fell short in a bid to become councillor last election. The challenge of campaigning across the whole town is steep. “In Mount Albert, I went to every single house,” he said. Woolridge wanted to do well in his back yard but he was unable to put forth the same effort in Holland Landing and Sharon.

With the Mount Albert community set to lag in growth in comparison to Sharon, Holland Landing and Queensville, an at-large voting system in future could make it even more of a challenge for people like Woolridge to get elected.

Last election not only did no Mount Albert councillor get elected, the fifth and sixth place finishers were from Holland Landing and Sharon. “It’s a bit of sore spot,” Woolridge said.

Consultants Dr. Andrew Sancton and Dr. Timothy Cobban told the audience that a ward system is one of the options being considered as part of the review. A potential ward system in East Gwillimbury would add two councillors and have two wards in Holland Landing, one in Sharon, one in Queensville, one in Mount Albert and one labelled rural in the 2018 election. "I like the proposed areas," Woolridge said.

Residents still have a chance to have their say about the town’s future electoral system at public consultations next week. One will be held at the Holland Landing Community Centre on Monday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., Harvest Hills Activity Centre on Tuesday Oct. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. and the Civic Centre in Sharon on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. An online survey will also be available for residents of East Gwillimbury to share their views from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6.  For more information about the electoral review or to read the preliminary report visit eastgwillimbury.ca.