York Region councillor pushing to make CEO an elected position

Markham regional Councillor Joe Li is bringing forward a motion Thursday asking his colleagues to support a bill making its way through the provincial legislature that would “require the head of council of The Regional Municipality of York to be elected by general vote.”

Thestar.com
Nov. 18, 2015
By Noor Javed

The CEO of York Region, Wayne Emmerson, holds one of the most powerful positions in the GTA - but the municipality’s 1.1-million residents, who pay his salary, had no say in selecting him for the prestigious job.

Like the 20 elected members of the council, Emmerson can cast a vote and has a voice in shaping crucial policy decisions such as determining tax increases, balancing the region’s $3-billion budget, and planning for growth across nine towns and cities.

That’s why a growing number of politicians say the position should be elected by the public, and that the current process for selecting the region chair denies York residents their “basic democratic right.”

“It comes down to democracy,” said Markham regional Councillor Joe Li, who is bringing forward a motion Thursday asking his colleagues to support a bill making its way through the provincial legislature that would “require the head of council of The Regional Municipality of York to be elected by general vote.”

Bill 42 was tabled in November 2014 by the Liberal MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, Chris Ballard, and has been given second reading. An endorsement from the region would allow it to quickly become law, and likely in time for the 2018 election, said Ballard.

“All of us would rather have the region say this is what they want, than have Queen’s Park impose it upon them,” Ballard said. “But if York Region council isn’t willing to move on this, then I will redouble my efforts,” he said, adding that he has already had discussions with Ted McMeekin, the minister of municipal affairs and housing.

Last year, Emmerson was appointed to the position after the 20 other mayor and councillors from across the region voted him in. Only York and Peel regions appoint their chairs. Halton and Durham allow their residents to vote for the region’s top job.

The mayors of the municipalities automatically sit on the regional council, whereas councillors are elected specifically for their positions.

In the GTA, the CEO job only exists where there are two tiers of municipal government. Toronto has a one-tier municipal government.

Li said he is bringing the motion forward because residents are demanding the change - in part because almost half of their taxes go the region.

“You raise taxes every year, but you are not accountable,” said Li. “But I have to answer the questions,” he said, adding that the CEO job comes with a $200,000 salary.

In 2014, Bill Fisch held the job and was paid $207,198.67 plus $18,051.14 in benefits. He retired in November of that year.

Li believes there is sufficient support for the idea on council, but the few politicians who responded to a request for comment said they will make their decision after the council debate. The last time the idea came to council in 2012, the politicians struck it down.

Emmerson says he won’t make a decision until after a council discussion.

“York regional council has an excellent track record of working together and delivering results on behalf of our residents,” he said in an email. “As with any motion that comes forward, our council will discuss accordingly and render a decision. I look forward to the dialogue with my colleagues,” he said.

Richmond Hill mayor Dave Barrow said he is not in support of a “direct-elect.”

“I am not sure that I would like to have a person running the region that had their own personal agenda as to what the region should be doing,” he said, adding that it would not be in the “best interest of all the municipalities.”

But Ballard, says he has heard all these reasons - and more.

“I don’t buy it,” he said. “I always come back to, how can you deny a basic democratic right to over a million residents of York Region?” he said. “It’s hard to justify doing that.”