The Ontario government is preparing to appoint regional chairs in the upcoming weeks, although no selections have been made yet, according to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack. Flack made this statement during a housing announcement in Guelph, where he also mentioned the possibility of an elected mayor serving as a regional chair.
While it is legally permissible for someone to hold both roles, Flack refrained from confirming if this arrangement would be implemented, citing an ongoing evaluation process to determine the appointees. He emphasized that while it is a potential scenario, it is not a certainty at this point.
Flack disclosed that the selection process for the next regional chairs is still ongoing, with numerous applications received from all eight regions, including Waterloo. The Ministry is currently conducting interviews and will make an official announcement regarding the appointed individuals after the municipal election on Oct. 26.
In a significant change in governance structure, the province announced its decision to appoint chairs for the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Waterloo region, and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County. Previously, these positions were filled through local elections. The appointed regional chairs will be granted considerable powers akin to those of a strong mayor.
Following the province’s announcement in April, Karen Redman, the Chair of the Region of Waterloo, expressed her commitment to her current position despite the impending changes. She highlighted her pride in being elected twice by the community and confirmed that she had applied for the regional chair role.
The process of selecting new regional chairs was detailed by Flack in June when the job posting was published on the province’s website. The application period ran from June 29 to July 13, with the appointed term set for four years from Nov. 15, 2026, to Nov. 14, 2030, or as determined by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
The move to appoint regional chairs has faced criticism and concerns from various politicians and officials across the province. Opposition MPPs have denounced the decision as an attack on democracy, raising issues about the concentration of power in the hands of mayors holding dual roles. The strong chair powers allocated to the appointed chairs have been labeled as undemocratic by some critics, sparking a debate on the implications of this governance shift.