Today, the Ontario government introduced the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, which, if passed, would make several changes, including the appointment of the District of Muskoka Chair.
Currently, the Muskoka District Chair is elected by District councillors. Instead, the proposed legislation would see the chair appointed by the province.
“These changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities. The proposed changes include giving the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power to appoint upper-tier council chairs in eight fast-growing regions and granting these council chairs “strong chair” powers to help them deliver on government priorities, such as housing and infrastructure,” states the release.
The proposed legislation would also see Simcoe County Council reduced from 32 members to 17. Niagara Regional Council would also be reduced from 32 members to 13 members.
“We will always support our municipal partners, both lower- and upper-tier, in delivering locally led solutions that offer better value for taxpayers and speed up decision-making,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “These changes provide the necessary tools for local leadership to advance our shared priorities and better serve our communities, including by expediting housing and infrastructure development.”
According to the province, the proposed Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, and related regulatory changes would, among other things:
- Allow the Minister to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County. Under previous legislation, the Minister had the authority to appoint chairs in Niagara, Peel and York regions for the 2022-2026 council term only.
- Regional chairs in the eight municipalities listed above would receive “strong chair” powers which mirror “strong mayor” powers, providing more efficient, streamlined local decision-making, enabling them to deliver faster results for residents and support efforts to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities.
The release also states that all regions must review their council composition following the 2026 municipal election, except Niagara Falls.
“The government will continue working with municipalities to identify ways to strengthen local governance in Niagara, Simcoe and beyond. Working together to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities helps advance housing and economic development, preparing both individual municipalities and the province as a whole for growth,” states the release.
“Our government is taking action to ensure regional governments, including the District of Muskoka, have the tools they need to respond to growth, deliver services efficiently, and support housing and infrastructure in our communities,” said Parry Sound-Muskoka Member of Provincial Parliament Graydon Smith. “These changes are about strengthening how decisions are made, so they can happen more efficiently, with clear accountability and in a way that delivers better value for taxpayers.”
Smith added that local municipalities and elected leaders will continue to play a central role in decision-making, “and we will keep working closely with our municipal partners to ensure these changes reflect the needs of our communities. Muskoka is a unique and special place and protecting its character while planning for the future will always be a priority. And at the end of the day, this is about making sure our region has a governance structure that can deliver results for residents, today and into the future.”
The next municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
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Appointing the District chair will “ improve accountability” only to the folks making the appointment. This is yet another antidemocratic move by the province.
Ten years ago, the Liberals said it was in the public interest to mandate elections for the regional chair in York, Peel, Muskoka and NiagaraIn 2017 Premier Doug Ford cited the same argument in announcing that the elections are being scrapped, and that regional councils would go back to appointing their own leaders.
In 2019, The Ontario government said it has decided against pursuing a “top-down approach” and would not radically redraw the province’s regional governments after a review process that took months. What is happening in 2026 that makes this a good idea? I wager it’s getting someone malleable to the Province’s agenda and not beholden to the voters. I dont recall this as an election pledge or even an election issue.
Do you think the fact that Jeff Lehman is a liberal would have anything to do with appointing the Muskoka District chairperson?
Lots of interesting comments of historical governance experience. Would like to know what criteria will be for selection of chair and what the primary purpose of these changes could be – ie what will be the measurable success of “Better Regional Governance 2026” for Muskoka. Provincially appointed Strong Chairs suggests remote control from Toronto and decreasing transparency and minimizing local citizen/taxpayer input into development etc and not cost efficiencies for local taxpayers. Local councils already limited by the power of the Ontario Land Tribunal.Hard to accept that planning will better support “unique and special place” of Muskoka. Expect to put more pressure on our MPP to represent our local concerns. Can he and will he be able to be effectively heard?
The District Chair is already appointed. The current chair is barley a resident- he changed his address to his parent’s cottage a day prior to the nomination period ended. Now a the Chair will simply be appointed by different politicians.
The District financinal management is shameful with no improvements in sight. Perhaps this change will help bring costs under control and cut the bloated bureaucracy.
The next step is to reduce the number of District councillors, eliminate wasteful programs and transfer more responsibility to the lower tier municipalities.
As someone who spent almost a decade in Municipal politics in Niagara, many years ago, I am completely opposed to this overreach by the Provincial Government. Regardless of their political party. The most accountable level of government to it’s citizens is at the Municipal level. Having a provincial appointee as District Chair, completely undermines the autonomy of Municipal governance. The public needs to send a strong message to the Province, this is completely unacceptable. Also, I was on a council during the Harris era forced Municipal amalgamations. It was a complete boondoggle. The supposed savings did not materialize. Costs escalated, and service levels were reduced.
Just a simple question – how come nobody in the Muskoka press is asking the question:”if Niagara Regional Council and Simcoe County Council are being halved (to 17 & 13 respectively), why is there no mention of the District of Muskoka with 22 Councillors?”. I would hazard a guess that Muskoka District Council will now be the largest Council in Ontario and/or, if not, it is close and has the smallest permanent population. You may recall that in 2018, when I was asked to Chair the ill-fated Council Composition committee, two proposals were tabled – reduce the no.of Councillors from each Municipality to 2 each (Mayor & Deputy Mayor)for a total of 12 or recast the District of Muskoka to a County where the norm is for 2 Councillors from each Municipality to sit on the County Council (giving 12 Councillors) and the Warden is a rotating assignment for the Mayors of each Municipality. Both were quickly defeated by the Towns majority position on the District Council.
So, there is some history that the Provincial Government had at its disposal – I wonder why they chose not to use it?
This is in keeping with the format used to give us District Government in the first place. We voted no, we got it anyway. That was in the 1970’s.
Since then District has grown to be the largest part of our tax bill.
To be fair, they have taken over things that used to be, and maybe should still be, under the jurisdiction of the Province. Many “District roads” for example were once Ontario highways. District pays for police and runs sewage and water plants as a few that come to mind.
And still to be fair, dealing with Muskoka District at least, I have found to be “not too bad” compared to other government entities.
It seems the local government is an over priced, over reaching group, intent on making everything as slow and expensive as possible, while duplicating many functions preformed by District. Or maybe it is the other way around…. hard to tell but there is too much government for sure.
I prefer that our representatives are elected and that includes, District, Local and School board as well as the Province and Federal levels of course. You are going to have a hard time getting a District Chair that was appointed by the Province to go to bat for their District and it’s citizens when they are not elected by them and appointed by the very body (Province) that they should be dealing with on their citizens behalf.
If they are going to do it the way they propose, maybe just get rid of all local government at all levels (school boards too) and expand the parking lot and help desk at Queen’s Park. Get more 800 numbers and hire some receptionists so we don’t have to be told our call “is important” and then wait a day and a half for an answer or be dropped after some really bad music. Hey! here is an idea, maybe install a special stop on the new North-lander train, right at their lobby and much like 800 #s have free train service to and from that stop so we can deal more directly and cheaply with our masters.
With 43.5% of the votes cast (19.75% of eligible voters), the PCs got 65% of the seats and 100% of the power.
Doug Ford has become the poster child for proportional representation
Are any of the claimed advantages actually true?
Appoint regional chairs = appoint regional puppets, would fit the scenario of ongoing Ford actions.
Interesting how Mr. Lehman was able to qualify for nomination as District Chair.
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/listen-up-our-new-district-chair-commentary/
I am in agreement with Ms. Francis and Mr. Kidd. The statement “”Only a dictator (emphasis on the first syllable) would do something like that! Have the chair elected by total voting population of Muskoka.”
Thank you.
Sandra Austin.
I seem to remember…”Power corrupts…Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”…And I recall the insanity of the government’s new town “Townsend” development..where the real estate agents made a killing buying up all the land, and then selling it off when the concept failed….
This is insane and Ford is acting like Trump , removing our democratic rights. I do not support the current Chair person ( Lehman who destroyed Barrrie) but it is the Muskoka voters who should vote in our Cahair person. I would not want to se a Ford poitical appointee. I believe Muskoka is in trouble now and it is time we have a Muskian leadership.
That does not bode well. This gives the province carte blanche to install whoever they want so that they can continue to ram things down our collective throats, most likely at the expense of our natural environment and a further threat to species already in decline. And I totally agree with William Kidd’s comment!!!
I wonder if Muskoka will see a reduction of councilors? Why not reduce the district council to our elected mayors and just increase their pay a bit to account for the extra work they would be doing? As far as the province appointing the chair, that is right out of Donald Trump’s play book. Only a dictator (emphasis on the first syllable) would do something like that! Have the chair elected by total voting population of Muskoka.