BWG Council Unanimously Supports County Governance Review

Bradford West Gwillimbury Council unanimously passed a resolution during the June 6^th Council Meeting, welcoming the appointment of provincial facilitators to review Simcoe County governance.

“The appointment of provincial facilitators is a welcomed first step toward completing a thoughtful governance review that will ensure the County is equipped to serve the growing, urbanizing, and diverse communities of Simcoe County. I want to thank the Premier, Minister Clark, and our MPP, Minister Mulroney, for their efforts in setting up a process that considers all facets of governance and will hopefully result in improved service delivery County-wide.” – Mayor James Leduc

Currently, Simcoe County Council consists of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for each of its sixteen member municipalities. Despite being one of the County’s largest municipalities, Bradford West Gwillimbury receives only two votes out of thirty-two total votes on County Council.

“Bradford West Gwillimbury is the most urbanized and diverse, and one of the largest and fastest-growing municipalities within the County. While we will always work collaboratively with our partners across the County, we would like to see efficiencies and needed reform so that our residents can feel confident that based on their contribution, they are being heard and treated fairly within the County.” – Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu

“Simply put, this lack of ‘representation by population’ is contrary to long-established Canadian principles of effective representation,” said Councillor Jonathan Scott, the Town’s Alternate County Councillor. “Reforming how County Council is constituted is long overdue and will bring more effective representation so that Bradford West Gwillimbury’s voice and voting power on County Council is fair.”

The resolution calls on facilitators to review the current governance and explore all options to ensure that principles including fair democratic representation; efficient decision-making and processes; and greater local municipal Autonomy; are considered and embedded into the structure to ensure equitable and thoughtful governance.

Please see the full Motion below:

21.1 Provincial Facilitators

Whereas the Ontario government has announced its intention to appoint “provincial facilitators” who “will be tasked with reviewing whether the upper-tier government continues to be relevant to the needs of its communities or whether the lower-tier municipalities are mature enough to pursue dissolution. Where they recommend that a two-tier government is still required, the facilitators will also make recommendations on how they can more effectively respond to the issues facing Ontario’s fast-growing municipalities today, particularly when it comes to meeting municipal housing pledges and tackling the housing supply crisis”; and

Whereas Bradford West Gwillimbury is situated in the upper-tier of Simcoe County, a large and diverse geographic area featuring 16 lowertier member municipalities and two separated cities – all of which face varying challenges in the delivery of efficient and cost-effective municipal services; and

Whereas Bradford West Gwillimbury has unique needs within Simcoe County due to its nature as the southernmost municipality, the most urbanized, most diverse and one of the largest towns in the County and one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the country; and

Whereas Simcoe County Council consists of each of the sixteen member municipalities’ Mayor and Deputy Mayor such that Bradford West Gwillimbury, despite being one of the County’s largest municipalities, receives only two votes out of thirty-two total votes on County Council; and

Whereas this lack of ‘representation by population’ is contrary to long established Canadian principles of effective representation; and

Whereas Bradford West Gwillimbury seeks to operate in a manner that best facilitates smart residential growth, economic development and a lean, efficient government; and

Whereas given the disparate interests and challenges across the County’s municipalities, varying growth pressures faced across the area and the provincial imperative to urgently deliver a broader range and supply of housing, the timing of the provincial facilitator’s review of Simcoe County’s future role, responsibilities and inter-municipal relationships is critical;

Now therefore, the Council of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury hereby resolves:

That a letter be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the County Warden by the Town’s County Councillors articulating that Bradford West Gwillimbury welcomes the appointment of the provincial facilitators and urges them to consider how to ensure principles such as fair democratic representation; efficient decision-making and good governance; removal of duplicative or overly cumbersome processes; greater lower-tier autonomy, particularly for South Simcoe municipalities; and, that the facilitators explore all options to do so.