AMO raises concerns Bill-100 limits local authority, undemocratic

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) says they don’t want the province to appoint regional chairs.

Ontario has recently appointed regional chairs in Niagara and York, bypassing the traditional council election process, but Bill-100 would give the province more power to appoint more regional chairs.

The association says they are very concerned that Bill-100 removes authority from local elected officials and is undemocratic.

CHCH News spoke with Minister Flack while he was in Brantford Friday.

The AMO recently sent a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack
the minister of municipal affairs and housing.

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In it they say, “we oppose the provincial government’s decision to establish an authority to appoint regional chairs.”

“On this we feel that strongly, that we sent a letter to Minister Flack, and asked them to rescind that,” said Robin Jones, the AMO President and Mayor for the Village of Westport. “We cannot align it with our own values of democracy, and we feel that we are the voice to speak on it on behalf of Ontario municipalities.”

If approved, Bill-100 would give the province the power to appoint regional chairs.

Regional chairs are usually elected by councilors like in Niagara, Halton and Peel.

“We think that by being a provincial appointee, rather than somebody elected by the people in the municipality — whose interests are they representing?,” said Jones.

CHCH News asked Minister Flack in Brantford Friday for a response on the letter he received from the AMO.

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He says Bill-100 is here to stay.

“Well, we’re not going to reverse it,” said Flack. “We’ve had great conversations, we’re going to go through with what was approved in the legislature. We’re going to wait ‘til the end of this upcoming municipal elections to appoint chairs.”

CHCH News then asked the minister what the benefits are to having the chairs appointed by the province, rather than voted in.

“When you think of a chair role, it’s like a facilitator bringing people together, trying to find consensus — not always easy,” said Flack. “We’re going to be looking for, as the old saying goes, the brightest and the best. Applications will be open.”

“This is going to be a vetted process to get the people with the talent, the skill, the ability to chair these regions, so we’re committed — this is good,” said Flack.

Municipal Elections in Ontario are coming up in October, and that’s when Minister Flack says the province will appoint regional chairs.

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