Markham councillor floats ballot box question for upcoming municipal election

'It’s only every four years, so it's an opportunity I don't think we should pass up,' says Coun. Andrew Keyes

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 21, 2022
Heidi Riedner

Markham residents may get to weigh in on more than who they want to represent them for the next four years.

The municipal election in October may not necessarily be on anyone’s radar yet, but a few Markham councillors have already suggested adding a question for residents to the ballot.

Counc. Andrew Keyes raised the issue on the heels of a staff report at general committee Jan. 17 regarding routine governance items that are typically brought forward to committee every election year for awareness.

“It’s not often that you are given an opportunity to ask our residents and our voters what they think on a particular subject, so I would encourage us to consider a question,” Keyes said.

“It’s only every four years, so it's an opportunity I don't think we should pass up.”

There is a provision in the Municipal Elections Act that provides committee and council with the opportunity to include a question on the ballot.

Historically, it's not something that city council has implemented in the past.

“Referendums are too expensive and we don't do it very often or regularly,” said Coun. Alan Ho, who supported taking the opportunity to ask residents to weigh in on particular issue.

Noting the casino issue in 1997, Ho said there are similar big issues like tourism currently on the city’s docket.

With March 1 being the deadline to place a question on the ballot, there is ample time for council to consider a formal question.

It has to be related to a matter that would be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the city, has to be framed in a manner that is clear, concise and understandable to an average Markham voter and it has to be one that solicits either a yes or no response, explained the city's elections manager, Scott Chapman.

“A public meeting would have to be held at least 10 days before a bylaw was passed if council considers going down this path,” Chapman said.

In terms of the vote itself, the results are only binding on the city if at least 50 per cent of eligible Markham residents vote on the question.

If that threshold is met, council will have to take action to implement the results of the question within 180 days, or refrain from taking action until the next term, depending on the particular question and any outcome.