At the April 27 Huntsville Council meeting, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock asked her fellow councillors to support a motion asking the province to refrain from its plan to appoint a District of Muskoka Chair.
Alcock said while Muskoka’s current method for appointing the chair may not be perfect, at least the chair is appointed by District Councillors who are elected by the residents of Muskoka.
The same motion was introduced by Alcock and Councillor Tatiana Sutherland at the District Council and passed on the heels of proposed legislation, the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. The provincial legislation was introduced earlier this month and, if passed, will make several changes, including allowing the province to appoint regional chairs.
“In that Act, it’s proposing to appoint all of the regional chairs in the province to support moving along the province’s direction on providing more housing, speeding it up, getting infrastructure moving—all of the principles that frankly not only has the District of Muskoka been supporting, but so has the Town of Huntsville. We’re trying to change our development approvals processes. We’re doing all sorts of things to try and make it more efficient and speed it up,” she said, adding that everyone around the District Council table was adamantly opposed to the concept of allowing the province to appoint the chair.
“What we highlighted last week was the difference—we’re not actually the same as the GTA region. We’re growing differently. Our economy is based on our natural environment, and everything is so integrated. We have a smaller population density. We just are different on so many levels,” added Alcock.
Councillor Helena Renwick was doubtful. She said municipalities are the creatures of the province, and the province dictates what happens in municipalities. “I am in favour of the motion. I think she should send it as a clear message that the District is not ready to have someone appointed…” she said.
Alcock concurred and said the fact that it’s going to third reading “is really problematic because most of the debate happens at second reading… We know what we’re hearing from our constituents. It’s so important that we convey this. Win or lose, it’s really important that we do it.”
Councillor Scott Morrison said Muskoka is just asking for an exemption. “What we’ve asked for is an exemption. We’re not trying to kill the bill; we want an exemption to recognize that we’re different. In the third reading, is it at all possible that an exemption could be considered?” Alcock said during the third reading, “You absolutely can bring in amendments, no question about it… We’re asking for one thing: the exemption around the appointment of the District chair. We’re very different from the GTA, and we support many of the things that you’re trying to do,” she said, speaking to the province.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the resolution. “Thank you all. We do what we can,” added Alcock.
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District councillors push back on potential appointment of Muskoka chair by the province
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The council should I.M.O., ask the province to have the chair elected by all the people of Muskoka. They should also ask the province to re-structure the responsibilities of district council to reduce overlap and redundancies. Why do we have a district roads department when each lower tier municipalities have a roads department? (I know the province downloaded highways to the district, but that can be restructured.) The district needs a reduction in the number of councilors as well.
For once I wholeheartedly agree with both Huntsville and Lake of Bays council in the thinking that the District chair should be elected by the local councilors who have been elected by the people.
Doing this by Provincial appointment puts too much power in the hands of people not elected to the District government by the people. It is just not a good idea.
Dear friends in Muskoka
I totally support this motion and I think it is very important to emphasize and value our differences. It is so interesting that this is happening at the same time that we,, the public, is being asked to get involved with the shaping of Muskoka’s Official Plan. Let’s get involved folks!!
Meg Jordan