One of Canada’s longest-serving mayors, Hazel McCallion, must be strutting around heaven with a big smile on her face these days. Mississauga, for almost half a century, a part of Peel Regional government, has been set free. At least, it will be, within the next three years, thanks to Ontario Premier Doug Ford. McCallion has been a champion of that for decades.
The decision is probably a good one. Larger cities like Mississauga and Brampton are big enough to stand alone without having to depend on others for much of their infrastructure.
But now of course, since Pandora’s Box has been opened, municipalities across Ontario who are part of regional or district governments, will be howling for reform.
When asked at a conference for the Ontario Municipal Administrators Association recently, Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said that he does not foresee the government eliminating other regional governments and there are no plans to do so elsewhere.
Subsequently, however, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has acknowledged that his phone has “been ringing off the hook – with mayors who want their independence from regional governments.”
Anyone who follows Ontario politics knows two things about Doug Ford. First, he doesn’t like to say no, when he can say yes, and second, he is not a fan of big government. As well, they likely are aware that he doesn’t hesitate to get involved in municipal matters when he feels the urge!
So, Minister Clark may be correct when he says the government has no other plans related to regional governments, but he may well have underestimated his Premier’s penchant to steer his own course, often without a lot of notice!
The question that arises around here of course, now that regional governments are no longer sacrosanct, is whether the time is ripe to reexamine the effectiveness of regional (District) government in Muskoka.
Of course, the circumstances are different. Mississauga and Brampton are large cities. The total population of Muskoka, including seasonal residents, would fit into just a couple of wards in either of those municipalities.
Nevertheless, there is, in my view, a great need to revisit the effectiveness of our governance model in Muskoka. It is top-heavy, there are unnecessary duplications of service, there is very little accountability at the District level, the payroll is huge and there is little excuse for Muskoka to have more elected municipal councillors than many of Ontario’s larger cities.
Some would argue that the time has come to look at a single governance model for Muskoka, effectively one municipality, eliminating for all meaningful purposes the six current municipalities made up of towns and townships in the District. For a number of reasons, I would have a problem with that.
First, seasonal residents, the majority of whom own property in one of the three townships, and many of whom have through their cottage associations strong political ties, would raise holy hell. That is because the majority of assessment is in the townships where there is less permanent population, and a single governance structure would spread that assessment, more than it does now, into more highly populated areas of Muskoka.
Second, I have never forgotten something that was once said by former MPP and Muskoka high school principal, Ken Black. He knew Muskoka well and was an educator in all three Muskoka towns. He was convinced that Northern Ontario started just about at Port Sydney.
I agree with him on that. While we are all a part of Muskoka, there is a cultural difference between south and north Muskoka. You see it in the architecture. You see it in the topography, and you also see it in people.
I believe it is important to keep the lower-tier municipalities intact, especially those with the larger permanent populations. I also believe these municipalities need to have more direct control of District-wide services.
To start with, we do not need planning and the bureaucracy that goes with it at both levels of municipal government. Those decisions are best made within the community where planning issues arise. As well, we do not need a dual system for roads in Muskoka. Each of the six municipalities should look after their own. What sense does it make for a District councillor from Port Carling to have a vote about whether a road in Huntsville should be closed for a community event?
There are, of course, services needed in Muskoka that transcend the jurisdiction of any one of the six area municipalities. This would include hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare entities. So, some form of upper-tier governance needs to remain in place. But it should not provide services that can best be provided by the lower tier municipalities. It should also be fully accountable to the six area municipalities who in turn are accountable to the taxpayer. While one might argue that is currently the case, it is not. Although District councillors are also area councillors, they are not accountable to their local council in relation to District matters.
Perhaps we should look at reverting to the old county system where local municipalities within a county would appoint a couple of their members to the county board to deal with county-wide issues. Those individuals would then be accountable directly to their home councils and through them to the electorate.
I am aware that we live in a time where many believe bigger is better but I continue to believe there is something special about the towns and smaller communities in Ontario. Most of them, and certainly this is true in Muskoka, have distinct personalities. People choose to live there for a reason. Generally, they want less bureaucracy, closer connections with the people they elect, and a sense of community that is not always possible in larger jurisdictions.
It may well be that the decision to disband the Region of Peel is a one-off initiative but Doug Ford has a seasonal home here. He knows our area well and he knows our challenges. He also has a former mayor from Muskoka in his Cabinet. One should not be surprised, therefore, if he turns his eye here, as he did in Toronto and as he has in Peel.
Are we ready for that or not?
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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“top-heavy, there are unnecessary duplications of service, there is very little accountability at the District level, the payroll is huge and there is little excuse for Muskoka to have more elected municipal councillors than many of Ontario’s larger cities.”
Correct, Hugh. And understated.
Toronto with 3 million people has 25 councillors.
Muskoka with 60,000 people has 23.
Do the math.
It came up multiple times that maybe there are too many councillors gorging themselves at the public trough.
Any change was voted down every time.
A multitude of councillors smugly wasting taxpayer money while making foolish, ridiculous, vindictive and even illegal decisions against Muskoka residents.
Was it a coincidence that the resident who complained about the District smugly wasting taxpayer money with a giant sign that the District then blew his house up?
I think not.
The District blamed residents!! for not noticing the District’s $300K tax error. For eleven years!!
Video of that is on the website. Ridiculous.
Even though they admitted they had no right to the money, staff recommended keeping it.
When a few of the Gravenhurst residents fiercely complained to the District the recommendation was to only refund 1 year of the 11 year error and only to those who noticed it and complained.
Not all 198 properties the District knew they owed money to. Ridiculous.
They ambushed our neighbourhood at Christmas expecting no resistance to pushing massive ($19K-$45K plus $1,500/year), needless costs on us.
$1.27+ million!!! just in the first year. $100,500 every year after that.
Laws were broken. The District admitted that on TV. A link to video is on the website.
We found out our rights, fought back, and won. Eventually. Should have been immediate.
In other neighbourhoods the District was rejected when they tried pushing the massive needless costs onto residents legally.
So alternative measures were taken with us.
They are still pushing massive, needless costs onto many residents.
Duplication, zero accountability, huge payroll for the multitude of foolish councillors.
The District of Muskoka needs to go.
Just like Peel.
The current situation is hopeless.
The District of Muskoka is the worst group of people our neighbourhood has ever come across.
Especially when it comes to dynamite.
Or the ridiculous cost of water and sewer services.
$2,400/year for water and sewer services is typical here.
Highest in Ontario despite easy access to unlimited water.
Including the costs shown/hidden on our property taxes.
No other municipality puts services charges like that on property taxes.
Why does the District of Muskoka exist again?
To borrow, and waste FAR more than any town or township could on their own.
The madness needs to stop.
Why are taxes here so high when Muskoka has the huge cash cow of cottagers?
Drunken sailors spend far less.
$620 million!!! on water and sewer services for example.https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/municipal-water-and-sewer-rates-on-the-rise/
Another $65 million being blown in Huntsville right now.
Finance at the District said they “don’t know” where the $65 million will come from when the feds and the province refused to pony up 2/3.
Taxpayers know.
“Smugly wasting taxpayer money.”
The madness needs to stop.
While residents struggle with inflation councillors voted themselves a 27%!!! pay increase.
Gorging themselves at the public trough.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/district-council-defeats-attempt-to-reduce-proposed-increase-to-councillor-pay/
Services costs are so high it’s possible to save $1,000+ per year with extreme water conservation.
For the website documenting the above search “Oppose Bracebridge Sewers” for extreme techniques.
As well as links to District documents, media, and video of the District admitting a serious mistake against our neighbourhood.
As well as a $300K mistake against 198 properties in Gravenhurst. For eleven years!!
Madness at the dysfunctional District needs to stop.
The nuclear option, as in Peel, needs to be implemented.
That’s our only hope for the future.
The current situation is hopeless.
Hugh…I remember when Mayor Mackenzie pushed this idea forward…I have to admit I was amongst those being skeptical of the idea, but with the buy-in of Councillor Sven Miglin (our Minister of Finance) I was converted to the proposal,,,, and then I became the chair of the Town’s strategic plan and I was totally into it whether I wanted to be or not…..lol….with the input of town staff CAO Walter Scmid and staff Karin Terziano we would never have opened on time….I was also seconded to MC the first night that the Algonquin Theatre opened…an honour I will never forget….
On a positive note, Huntsville now has arguably the best looking downtown in Ontario thanks to combined efforts from District infrastructure projects, and local councils going back to when mayor Hugh Mackenzie built the Algonquin Theater and the River Mill Park, along with several projects by the Rotary Club.
Muskoka District needs to be dissolved as well.
Trashing the airport is equivalent to Doug Ford trashing the Science Centre, Greenbelt and Ontario Place.
For no valid reason at all.
For an understated letter to the editor search: “Muskoka Airport decision mind-boggling, says reader”
Similar comments here: https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/massively-over-budget-district-cans-grass-runway-project/
And here:https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/massively-over-budget-district-cans-grass-runway-project/
The latest consultant agreed with a previous consultant that building beside instead of on top of a runway makes the most sense, financially and otherwise.
The average person would agree with that as well.
There never was a valid reason to close the historic grass runway or that it’s closed right now.
A plethora of misinformation was presented to council from airport management.
Why resort to fiction to push an initiative past council?
1. Because it works. At least in Muskoka.
2. Because the facts do not support the initiative at all.
It seems unelected staff run Muskoka and the sole purpose of councillors is to rubber stamp whatever ridiculous plan they cook up.
Council desperately clung to the misinformation from a few unskilled non-pilots (airport CEO and chair) even if it kills someone.
While ignoring everyone else.
3 accidents, so far, and lost business at Lake Central who have been in operation at the airport for 50+ years are a result of the mismanagement.
It is documented that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, Cessa, airline pilots, local pilots and others with aviation competence have thoroughly debunked the misinformation presented to council.
The animosity towards pilots and the truth from current airport management is totally unacceptable.
To be fair, not all councillors were fooled by the misinformation.
Just the majority.
“District Coun. Robert Lacroix said he’s been told by pilots that 09-27 was poorly maintained for more than a decade, which correlated with a decline in usage noted during the meeting by O’Connor.”
Maintaining runways is part of airport management’s job description.
They refused to maintain a runway and then claimed it’s not used much so should be closed.
Just like Doug Ford and his developer buddies are laughing at Ontario residents while he reneges on election promises and spews misinformation, current airport management and their developer buddies are laughing at District Council.
Are all District decisions based on misinformation?
The District should be dissolved and the airport sold to a pilot entrepreneur interested and qualified to run and expand the airport.
Like similar airports nearby that are thriving and moving forward.
Muskoka airport is languishing and going backwards rapidly.
Trashed.
Hugh, sometimes Bigger, is just that, it does not mean better. It does mean a lot more expense with a lot less governance or return.