All-Candidates Forum: Where do local District candidates stand on the size of District Council?

Nine candidates running in the October 22 municipal election for Mayor, Town and District Council, and Brunel Ward fielded questions on everything from affordable housing and healthcare to water quality and waterfront development at an All-Candidates Forum on September 20 hosted by the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce.

(Note: Town and District Council candidate Lillian Fraser was absent. The candidates in Chaffey Ward, Jonathan Wiebe, and Huntsville Ward, Karin Terziano, are acclaimed. Candidates in Stisted, Stephenson, Port Sydney Ward will participate in a forum on September 27.)

With the recent introduction of legislation to reduce the number of Toronto City Councillors and the reversal of a decision to have the District Chair of Muskoka elected at-large, local resident Bill Coon wanted to know how candidates for Town and District Council would implement change at our regional level. At the September 20 All-Candidates Forum he asked the five candidates present, “Norfolk County has a population of 5,000 people more than Muskoka. The municipality is efficiently run by eight councillors and a mayor. How do you make District council more relevant to the regular taxpayer and going forward how do you rein in the size of 23 councillors and the costs associated with that?”

Nancy Alcock, one of the incumbent Town and District Councillors, replied, “In this current council, we set up a council composition review committee and I think it was really in preparation for the previous legislation from the old provincial government that said that we would be required to review our council composition and our governance model after this election. So, I think that legislation is out the window. Having said that, it’s really important for us to continue to do that because I think under this government if we are not prepared with a position about the size of council, and the number of committees and representation, I think this particular government at the provincial level would be absolutely ready to come in with their own legislation whether it suits our needs or not. I absolutely support looking at decreasing size of councillors if that seems to be the most logical step going forward.”

Candidate Helena Renwick quipped, “Maybe they’re just smarter over in Norfolk. Again, being new to this I would wholeheartedly agree that we have too many councillors at the District level, there are over 500 staff at District, the amount of money that’s spent for the District, and I think what you said, Bill, was very true that I don’t think the average citizen is really connected with what happens at District. For myself to be elected, I would love to be there representing Huntsville and having a voice but do we need three voices and a mayor? I don’t know if we do…I do agree that we have too many councillors at District.”

Brian Thompson, who is also an incumbent for Town and District Council, said, “I really don’t think we have a lot of choice in the matter. If we don’t take action ourselves, as Councillor Alcock stated, I think the new premier of our province is going to probably take steps in that direction, we’ve seen what he’s done to the council in Toronto already. I think the way we go about it is of paramount importance and the impact of District Council also is going to impact on the councils at the municipal level. I will deal more about that in my closing statement.”

Bob Stone, current councillor for Huntsville Ward and candidate for Town and District Council, told Coon, “District Council is too large, too expensive, and too disconnected from the people it serves. I don’t believe that having one District Council and abolishing the towns is an answer, I think that’s opposite to what we need. We already have two top-down governments and I believe municipalities should be the voice of the people. Your neighbours held to account by virtue of being part of the community. They know your issues best. So significantly reducing the number of councillors at the District table, absolutely yes, and downloading some of services as I’ve mentioned, the roads and the planning authority, back to the municipalities.”

Candidate Tim Withey wrapped up the comments with, “I think we live in interesting times to bring that up now with what’s happened in the City of Toronto. I do find it interesting that now 25 councillors can handle over three million people in Toronto, there’s about 22, I think, handling over a million in Ottawa, and we the same number with a population of just over 60,000 so absolutely the time is ripe for change. I agree with Mr. Stone. I think we need to download some of the services where there is duplication that’s holding up things like developments, permits and things like that where a number of projects are being delayed irresponsibly. So the time is ripe. I agree if we don’t do it, it will be done for us.”

District Council comprises the District Chair, the mayors of Muskoka’s six municipalities (the towns of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Huntsville, and the townships of Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, and Muskoka Lakes), and 16 District Councillors (four from each of the towns and the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and three each from the townships of Georgian Bay and Lake of Bays).

Learn more about the District Council Composition Review here. A public meeting is scheduled for October 5, 2018 in District Council Chambers.

Watch the full debate here.

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