Words such as “erosion of democracy,” “bullying,” and “disrespect” were heard from frustrated District of Muskoka Councillors at a special council meeting held on June 3, 2026.
The meeting was chaired in the absence of District Chair Jeff Lehman by District of Muskoka Deputy Chair Terry Glover, who described the issue at hand as one of the most consequential this council will face and one that will impact the District and all of Muskoka’s municipalities for years to come.
For about two hours, councillors debated how forceful they should be in trying to hit home their discontent with the Ontario provincial government’s plan to appoint the District chair, rather than have the person elected by District councillors.
The move follows the Province’s decision under Bill 100, the Better Regional Governance Act, to appoint the heads of council for eight upper-tier municipalities, including Muskoka. Council had previously requested an exemption from the legislation, a request the Province declined.
Perhaps Councillor Bob Stone said much of what councillors were feeling most succinctly.
“I’m really upset, as we all are, about this. This is undermining our democracy, and I want to stand up and fight for it. The trouble is, we have no power. It’s all dictated to us from the Province, and we have no power to say ‘no,’ and that is utterly frustrating, utterly undemocratic. If we do send a strong message back, we risk the Province sending a bully or withholding money, or our hospital, and that scares the hell out of me,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s any recourse through the courts eventually, but that’s certainly not going to happen now or anytime soon. I’m disappointed and, like I said, we have no power to fight back.”
Following much debate, the council unanimously approved a motion that outlines the qualities councillors believe should be considered when selecting the municipality’s next political leader.
At the meeting, council passed a resolution asking Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, and area MPP and Associate Minister Graydon Smith to consider a series of criteria when appointing Muskoka’s District Chair for the 2026-2030 term.
The approved motion states that Muskoka District Council is looking for a chair who has prior elected municipal experience, a strong and ongoing connection to Muskoka, the ability to build consensus, an understanding of the region’s rural and northern realities, and strong leadership skills.
Council also requested that, once applications for the position close, the Province provide the list of candidates and their resumes to District Council so that councillors can offer recommendations to the Minister before a final appointment is made.
During the meeting, councillors debated a second, more forceful resolution outlining how Muskoka could respond if the Province proceeds with appointing the District Chair.
The motion expressed concerns about local accountability and governance, citing experiences in other regions where provincially appointed chairs were seen as operating independently of council direction. The proposal called for measures that would limit the authority of a provincially appointed chair, including removing the chair from committee and board appointment processes, requiring additional oversight of government relations activities, and ensuring council maintains control over governance structures and strategic direction.
Among the more controversial provisions of the motion was a proposal that the District not fund the remuneration, benefits, or discretionary expenses of an appointed chair.
Some wanted to move forward with both barrels blazing, while others cautioned about the possible ramifications and preferred a more conciliatory tone. However, a majority of council ultimately voted to refer the motion to staff for further review. Staff was directed to examine whether any of council’s stated intentions in the more forceful motion contravene existing legislation and examine the implications of the proposed measures.
Staff was asked to report back to council at its June 15 meeting.
The debate highlights growing tensions between Muskoka and the Province over the future governance structure of the District. While councillors have acknowledged the Province appears determined to move ahead with appointments, many continue to advocate for maintaining local influence over who will lead Muskoka’s upper-tier government.
Council is expected to revisit a harsher stance later this month when staff return with their analysis and recommendations.
You can find both of the resolutions HERE. You can also watch the meeting HERE.
Councillor Guy Burry was not at the meeting.
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Council pushes against Muskoka Chair
For thousands of years civilization has looked up at the golden cow of politics and the abuse of religion to solve all of our problems. It just doesn’t work and it never will. Why? Because men and women of all stripes want to do good, but get veered off track by the silent power of greed.
You can’t ride the back of a giant snake and expect it to go where you think it should.
What greeted Moses when he brought the 10 commandments? Politics and the abuse of religion. What greeted God Himself as Yeshua when He came and walked among us to reveal the simplest and most obvious truths? Politics and the abuse of religion. What’s the deal with not having an elected official in the District Board? Politics and the abuse of religion.
“Oh! Vote for us because we dress like we’re “Conservative/Liberal/etc etc/good people”.
Politicians are nothing more than highly polished gangsters that make the money generating “illegal” criminals look like little boys in a sandbox arguing over who gets to have the little red fire truck. Drug dealers, etc., may make thousands or even millions. But that pales in comparison to legally docking money from everybody’s pay cheque world wide into the trillions of dollars. Too bad there’s no profit in peace and taking care of each other.
Good grief people, wake up.
Barney O’Hara
Gravenhurst.
I am no constitutional scholar, but this poses an interesting constitutional question
Section 3 of the constitution states:
Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.
Since 1982, the meaning of this has been questioned and opined…..I believe that consensus now includes:
1) municipal councils are “legislative assemblies”
2) The right to vote should be interpreted in a “broad and liberal” manner
3):The Court has used the concepts of “effective representation” and “meaningful participation” in judgments that flesh out the requirements and constraints that the right to vote puts on electoral and political processes.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly suggested that this fundamental right needs to result in “effective represent” REGARDLESS of the voting processes……
Is then a unelected District head “effective representation”? Doubtful
Lastly, the right to vote is one of the few rights that can not be over written by the “not withstanding clause”
Any constitutional scholars out there?
I thought l lived in a democracy. I was wrong.
You know whats frustrating? Have property taxes continually raise well services get less and less.
Muskoka/Parry Sound seems to have been a pretty stout supporter of the provincial Progressive Conservatives. So why does it seem that this same party is so determined to strip the area of more and more of its’ voice? We in Huntsville get a ‘strong mayor’ designation which leaves voices muted. Now we are to get a district under direction of the province. Has the area shown poor judgement all these years? I would agree in some instances. Look at some of the people saying this is a great idea.
Get rid of ‘District’ altogether for the sake of the area. How am I supposed to respect a party and a system that doesn’t trust the people I voted for? A government that is willing to by-pass even their voice in the running of the are? I’m not saying I have faith in our ‘district government, but have still less in a program that doesn’t trust itself.
It’s like we are becoming a test area for creeping Socialism? Mr. Stone worries about having no power with which to fight back. Good observation. Think of how some of us taxpayers feel and have felt for years now.
What is the point of having a District Council if the province is going to appoint the chairperson? Do we need a district council? Does Parrysound District have a district council? Parrysound district seems to be doing okay. Why not just go back to the way Muskoka was before the district council was formed? The district staff run the district now so if the council was eliminated it would just mean staff reports to the province not the council. Why not just eliminate one level of elected government?