Waterloo regional councillors have strongly opposed the idea of a single individual holding both the positions of regional chair and mayor at a recent council meeting. The council unanimously supported a motion put forth by Coun. Doug Craig, signaling their disapproval of merging the two roles. Craig emphasized that the motion aims to convey their belief that such a move undermines local democracy.
This decision follows the provincial announcement of plans to appoint a regional chair in April and the passing of Bill 100, known as the Better Regional Governance Act, in May. This legislation grants the province the authority to appoint regional chairs in eight regions, including Waterloo region, a departure from the previous practice of residents voting for regional chairs during municipal elections.
The ambiguity remains regarding the possibility of a mayor concurrently serving as a regional chair. Craig stressed that the motion seeks to uphold transparency, echoing his initial proposal during the August 11 council meeting, where he criticized the idea of a mayor holding the regional chair position as “incomprehensible.”
Expressing concerns about the consolidation of powers, Craig highlighted the impracticality of a mayor fulfilling both roles effectively, given the demanding nature of the responsibilities. Council member Pam Wolf, who supported the motion, echoed these concerns, citing the potential concentration of power in one individual and emphasizing the importance of representing the entire region’s interests rather than just one municipality.
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe drew attention to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s staunch opposition to Bill 100, advocating for the preservation of the democratic process in electing heads of council. McCabe noted that the AMO, along with municipalities across Ontario, reject the direction outlined in the legislation.
The council’s resolution will be forwarded to key provincial authorities, including the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and local Members of Provincial Parliament. Additionally, it will be shared with neighboring municipalities and other affected regional bodies.