Doug Ford government plans public meeting in Kitchener as it reviews regional governance

Regional chair Karen Redman said many residents and businesses asked for an opportunity to speak directly to the province’s special advisers.

Yorkregion.com
April 2, 2019
Johanna Weidner

The province is holding meetings to give people a chance to share their views on regional government as part of its review of municipal governance.

"We welcome this," said Regional chair Karen Redman. "We think this is a very good development."

Meetings will be held in the eight regional municipalities being reviewed, including Waterloo Region and its cities and townships.

The local meeting is scheduled for April 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the regional council chambers at 150 Frederick St., Kitchener.

People who register can make presentations to special advisers Ken Seiling, former regional chair, and Michael Fenn, former chief administrative officer of Hamilton-Wentworth Region. The pair will provide their recommendations this summer.

Redman said many residents and members of the business community were asking for this opportunity to speak to the advisers. While some people feel comfortable submitting comments online, others would rather meet face-to-face.

"It's nice to have a variety of opportunities to express opinions," Redman said.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic wants to give Kitchener residents a say on regional reform through a statistically representative survey.

A mail survey will ensure the views represent a true cross-section of citizens, including those who might be less likely or less comfortable making a formal presentation at a public meeting or answering an online survey, Vrbanovic said. It would likely cost about $25,000.

Survey results would be made public. Kitchener council approved the plan unanimously.

"Local government is the order of government that has the most significant impact on citizens' day-to-day life," Vrbanovic said. "We want to see as much resident engagement as possible, because these changes are going to impact the future of our community, and we want any potential changes to represent not only the objectives of the province, but also the objectives that the community has set."
"The more people we hear from, the better grasp we have of the whole situation," said Coun. John Gazzola.

People who want to make a presentation to the province can register online starting on Wednesday. They can also comment through the online survey or mailed. You can find out more at Ontario.ca/regionalgovernment.

The province is looking in particular for feedback on regional governance, decision-making and service delivery. The review is supposed to wrap up by early summer.

Regional council is also holding a public meeting on April 17 so that regional residents can have a say about local government reform.

The review has sparked concern, particularly from the rural townships and the City of Cambridge, that the province might force a merger into a supercity, a move they say will wipe out their identities.

Redman said the review was set by the province, not requested locally, and the timeline is tight, which is why it's vital to give people who live in the areas under scrutiny a venue to share their views.

"I think it's really important people feel they have an opportunity to have some input."