Some York Region councillors pushing to have elected chair

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 5, 2015
Lisa Queen  

In a region of 1.1 million residents, it only takes 11 people to select York’s most powerful political leader.

Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li and Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann want to change that.

On Nov. 19, Li will bring in a motion, seconded by Altmann, asking councillors to make the regional chair an elected position.

At the moment, the chairperson is chosen by 20 mayors and regional councillors.

‘Given the public sentiment these days, and every time a story is published about this, I get emails, positive emails, saying, ‘Haven’t they done it yet?’

Since the successful candidate only needs a majority of 11 votes, that means the winner only requires 0.001 per of the population to secure arguably the most important political job in the region, which comes with a salary of more than $200,000, Li said.

Having regional council say it wants an elected chair would send a powerful message, he said.

“We are telling the world we should be more democratic,” he said.

“You see around the world, people are fighting now for a democratic process.”

Regional chairman Wayne Emmerson declined to comment but, in the past, has said he wants the job to remain an appointed position.

Altmann could not be reached for comment, but Li said it was important to have him second the motion, so it doesn’t appear as if the big three southern municipalities are “ganging up” on the northern six.

The chair should be accountable to residents rather than just 20 mayors and regional councillors, Li said.

“If they want the job, there should be some accountability. Now, there is no accountability,” he said, pointing out the chairs in Durham, Halton and Waterloo are now elected.

“If there is an elected chair, if they continue to raise taxes every year, at least we can kick them out. Right now, there is nothing we can do and the region has been raising taxes every year.”

At the moment, candidates for chair curry favour with mayors and councillors behind the scenes to secure their votes, Li said.

“In order for the chairman to get his position, he has to make deals,” he said. “I don’t like backroom deals.”

For example, Li said he was made vice-chair of the region’s planning and economic development committee, a title he said is important on trade missions when he is trying to attract investment to the region.

Given council’s history of rejecting the idea of an elected regional chair, even as recently as last month when it dismissed a small step toward the idea put forward by Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor, Li knows he is fighting an uphill battle.

“I know it’s not going to be easy because everyone (including mayors and councillors who want the chair to remain a managerial position answerable to them) is protecting their turf,” he said.

“I’m sure the chairman would start working around the clock as soon as my notice of motion was received at the region. He’s going to start calling all the other council members to tell them why it shouldn’t be an elected chair position. He can do his part, I will do my part. At the end of the day, let the best salesman win.”

According to Li, Markham regional councillors Nirmala Armstrong and Jim Jones and another councillor he wouldn’t name have said they will vote in favour of his motion.

A similar motion is also coming to Markham council next Tuesday, Li said.

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard — whose private member’s bill to make the chair elected, has passed second reading at Queen’s Park — welcomed Li’s motion.

“There are two ways to deal with this. If I were a regional councillor, I would be saying we could develop a made-in-York Region solution or we could have Queen’s Park impose a made-in-Queen’s Park solution,” he said.

“Given the public sentiment these days, and every time a story is published about this, I get emails, positive emails, saying, ‘Haven’t they done it yet?”

If council doesn’t say it wants an elected chair, Ballard anticipates his bill will be passed into law in ample time for the next municipal elections in three years.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s coming down the pike and do you want to drive the car or do you want to be a passenger?” he said.

“So far, I have received a lot of support at Queen’s Park for this idea but we’re looking to the region to develop a made-in-York Region solution before I have to really push hard for a made-in-Queen’s Park solution.”