The Ford government announced Tuesday it will be implementing a review of Ontario’s eight regional municipalities and Simcoe County to determine whether the municipal governments in these areas are efficient and accountable to their residents and businesses. The review will cover Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District and Oxford County and their lower-tier municipalities. The province said Simcoe County and its lower-tier municipalities will also be included in the review because of its rapid growth and associated challenges. According to the province, an advisory body comprised of two special advisers will consult with municipal councillors and leaders, as well as stakeholder organizations and the public throughout the spring of 2019. In total, 82 upper- and lower-tier municipalities are included in the review. We’re breaking down the municipalities covered under the review (numbers based on 2016 census) — this file will be updated as we go. Durham Region When region was created: Jan. 1, 1974 Regional chair: John Henry Total population: 645,862 Number of regional council members: 29. Members include the regional chair, and mayors and regional councillors from the local area municipalities. Lower-tier municipalities: Ajax Population: 119,677 Mayor: Shaun Collier Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 3 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 19,946 Geographic size: 67 square kilometres Brock Population: 11,642 Mayor: Debbie Bath-Hadden Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,940 Geographic size: 423.34 square kilometres Clarington Population: 92,013 Mayor: Adrian Foster Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,336 Geographic size: 611 square kilometres Oshawa Population: 159,458 Mayor: Dan Carter Regional councillors: 5 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,945 Geographic size: 145.64 square kilometres Pickering Population: 91,771 Mayor: Dave Ryan Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 3 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,295 Geographic size: 231.55 square kilometres Scugog Population: 21,617 Mayor: Bobbie Drew Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,603 Geographic size: 414.71 square kilometres Uxbridge Population: 21,176 Mayor: Dave Barton Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,529 Geographic size: 420.95 square kilometres Whitby Population: 128,377 Mayor: Don Mitchell Regional councillors: 4 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 16,047 Geographic size: 146.66 square kilometres Halton Region When region was created: Jan. 1, 1974 Regional chair: Gary Carr Total population: 548, 435 Number of regional council members: 21 Lower-tier municipalities: Burlington Population: 183,314 Mayor: Marianne Meed Ward Councillors: 6 (serve as both regional and ward) Average number of constituents per councillor: 30,552 Geographic size: 185.66 square kilometres Halton Hills Population: 61,161 Mayor: Rick Bonnette Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 6,116 Geographic size: 276.27 square kilometres Milton Population: 101,715 Mayor: Gordon Krantz Regional councillors: 4 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 12,714 Geographic size: 40.36 square kilometres Oakville Population: 193,832 Mayor: Rob Burton Regional councillors: 7 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 13,845 Geographic size: 138.89 square kilometres Muskoka District When region was created: 1971 Regional Chair: John W. Klinck Total population: 60,599 Number of regional councillors: 23 Lower-tier municipalities: Bracebridge Population: 16,010 Mayor: Graydon Smith Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,001 Geographic size: 628.22 km² Gravenhurst Population: 12,311 Mayor: Paul Kelly Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1539 Geographic size: 518.06 km² Georgian Bay Population: 2,499 Mayor: Peter Koetsier Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 417 Geographic size: 547.61 km² Huntsville Population: 19,816 Mayor: Scott Aitchison Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,477 Geographic size: 710.01 km² Lake of Bays Population: 3,167 Mayor: Terry Glover Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 528 Geographic size: 677.91 km² Muskoka Lakes Population: 6,588 Mayor: Phil Harding Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 732 Geographic size: 794.26 km² Niagara Region When region was created: Jan 1, 1970 Regional Chair: Jim Bradley Total population: 447,888 Number of regional councillors: 31 Lower-tier municipalities: Fort Erie Population: 30,710 Mayor: Wayne Redekop Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,387 Geographic size: 166.27 km² Grimsby Population: 27,314 Mayor: Jeff Jordan Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,035 Geographic size: 68.93 km² Lincoln Population: 23,787 Mayor: Sandra Easton Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,643 Geographic size: 162.81 km² Niagara Falls Population: 88,071 Mayor: Jim Diodati Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 8,006 Geographic size: 209.73 km² Niagara-on-the-Lake Population: 17,511 Mayor: Betty Disero Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,946 Geographic size: 132.81 km² Pelham Population: 17,110 Mayor: Marvin Junkin Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,444 Geographic size: 126.43 km² Port Colborne Population: 18,306 Mayor: William C. Steele Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,034 Geographic size: 121.96 km² St. Catharines Population: 133,115 Mayor: Walter Sendzik Regional councillors: 6 Ward councillors: 12 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,395 Geographic size: 96.13 km² Thorold Population: 18,801 Mayor: Terry Ugulini Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,089 Geographic size: 82.99 km² Wainfleet Population: 6,372 Mayor: Kevin Gibson Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,593 Geographic size: 217.31 km² Welland Population: 52,293 Mayor: Frank Campion Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 12 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,486 Geographic size: 81.04 km² West Lincoln Population: 14,500 Mayor: Dave Bylsma Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 3 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,625 Geographic size: 387.81 km² York Region When region was created: 1971 Regional Chair: Wayne Emmerson Total population: 1.1 million Number of regional councillors: 21 Lower-tier municipalities: Aurora Population: 55,445 Mayor: Tom Mrakas Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 9,241 Geographic size: 49.85 km² East Gwillimbury Population: 24,000 Mayor: Virginia Hackson Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,000 Geographic size: 245 km² Georgina Population: 45,418 Mayor: Margaret Quirk Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,570 Geographic size: 288 km² King Population: 24,512 Mayor: Steve Pellegrini Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,085 Geographic size: 333 km² Markham Population: 328,966 Mayor: Frank Scarpitti Regional councillors: 4 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 27,416 Geographic size: 212.35 km² Newmarket Population: 84,224 Mayor: John Taylor Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 10,528 Geographic size: 38.45 km² Richmond Hill Population: 185,540 Mayor: Dave Barrow Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 23,193 Geographic size: 100.95 km² Vaughan Population: 306,230 Mayor: Maurizio Bevilacqua Regional councillors: 3 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 38,279 Geographic size: 273.52 km² Whitchurch-Stouffville Population: 45,837 Mayor: Iain Lovatt Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,640 Geographic size: 206.41 km² Oxford County When region was created: 2001 Warden: Larry Martin Total Population: 110,862 Number of regional councillors: 8 Lower-tier municipalities: Blandford-Blenheim Population: 7,399 Mayor: Mark Peterson Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,850 Geographic size: 382.3 km² East Zorra-Tavistock Population: 7,129 Mayor: Don McKay Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,426 Geographic size: 242.30 km² Ingersoll Population: 12,757 Mayor: Ted Comiskey Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,126 Geographic size: 12.75 km² Norwich Population: 11,001 Mayor: Larry Martin Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,750 Geographic size: 431.27 km² Loading... 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South-West Oxford Population: 7,664 Mayor: David Mayberry Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,277 Geographic size: 370.73 km² Tillsonburg Population: 15,872 Mayor: Stephen Molnar Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 6 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,645 Geographic size: 22.33 km² Woodstock Population: 40,902 Mayor: Trevor Birtch Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 6,817 Geographic size: 48.97 km² Zorra Population: 8,138 Mayor: Marcus Ryan Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,035 Geographic size: 528.94 km² Peel Region When region was created: Jan 1, 1974 Regional Chair: Nando Iannicca Total Population: 1.382 million Number of regional councillors: 29 Lower-tier municipalities: Brampton Population: 593,638 Mayor: Patrick Brown Regional councillors: 6 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 59,364 Geographic size: 266.36 km² Caledon Population: 66,502 Mayor: Allan Thompson Regional councillors: 4 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 8,313 Geographic size: 688.16 km² Mississauga Population: 721,599 Mayor: Bonnie Crombie Regional and ward councillors (all act in both roles): 11 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 65,600 Geographic size: 292.43 km² Waterloo Region When region was created: 1973 Regional Chair: Karen Redman Total Population: 535,154 Number of regional councillors: 15 Lower-tier municipalities: Cambridge Population: 129,920 Mayor: Kathryn McGarry Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 8 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 12,992 Geographic size: 113.01 km² Kitchener Population: 233,222 Mayor: Berry Vrbanovic Regional councillors: 4 Ward councillors: 10 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 16,659 Geographic size: 136.77 km² North Dumfries Population: 10,215 Mayor: Susan Foxton Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,554 Geographic size: 187.43 km² Wilmot Population: 20,545 Mayor: Les Armstrong Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,109 Geographic size: 263.78 km² Waterloo Population: 104,986 Mayor: Dave Jaworsky Regional councillors: 2 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 11,665 Geographic size: 64.02 km² Wellesley Population: 11,260 Mayor: Joe Nowak Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 4 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,815 Geographic size: 277.76 km² Woolwich Population: 25,006 Mayor: Sandy Shantz Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 5,001 Geographic size: 326.15 km² Simcoe County When region created: 1843 (as Simcoe District) Warden: George Cornell Total population: 305,516 Number of regional councilors: 31 Lower-tier municipalities: Adjala-Tosorontio Population: 10,975 Mayor: Floyd Pinto Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 5 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,829 Geographic size: 372.3 km² Bradford West Gwillimbury Population: 35,325 Mayor: Rob Keffer Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,416 Geographic size: 201 km² Clearview Population: 14,151 Mayor: Doug Measures Regional councillors: 0 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,022 Geographic size: 557.32 km² Collingwood Population: 21,793 Mayor: Brian Saunderson Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,724 Geographic size: 33.46 km² Essa Population: 21,083 Mayor: Sandie Macdonald Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 3 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 5,271 Geographic size: 280.07 km² Innisfil Population: 36,566 Mayor: Lynn Dollin Regional councillors: 1 Ward councillors: 7 Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,571 Geographic size: 284.21 km² Midland Population: 16,864<doc-sep>Share this Story: Ontario reviewing 82 municipalities, raising possibility of amalgamations Ontario reviewing 82 municipalities, raising possibility of amalgamations Article content TORONTO — Ontario is reviewing 82 municipalities, a move that raises the possibility of amalgamations and comes not long after the Progressive Conservative government slashed the size of Toronto’s city council nearly in half. The province said Tuesday that it has tapped two experts to conduct the review of Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County, the County of Simcoe and their lower-tier municipalities. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ontario reviewing 82 municipalities, raising possibility of amalgamations Back to video One of the questions the experts will consider is whether two-tier structures are appropriate for all of the municipalities. Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark said the government wasn’t ruling out amalgamations. “People are open to talk about whatever they feel is their local priority,” he said in an interview. “If that’s something they feel should be looked at in their community then they can use the advisers for that purpose.” The NDP’s municipal affairs critic said the last amalgamations came with “a massive wave of service costs and new cuts for people to bear.” “The Ontario NDP is deeply concerned that the Ford Conservatives are planning to use the regional review as a pretext to impose amalgamation on municipalities,” Jeff Burch said in a statement. “The premier’s job is to respect the will of democratically elected local governments and work with them, not attempt to override their wishes and control their regions.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie suggested that being part of the Peel regional government may no longer make sense for her municipality. “I think there are inefficiencies and duplication in two levels of government and we have proven in the past that Mississauga could realize up to $30 million in savings should we control our own destiny and be a single tier,” she said. “There are certainly cities much smaller than Mississauga — Windsor, Sudbury, Barrie, Hamilton, Guelph for that matter, that are single tier.” The regional government model has been around for nearly 50 years, so it was time for a review, Clark said. “Things have changed, populations have grown, infrastructure pressures have mounted, taxpayer dollars have been stretched, and I think it’s really important that we look at the regional level,” he said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Michael Fenn, a deputy minister and founding CEO of regional transportation agency Metrolinx, and Ken Seiling, who recently retired as Waterloo Region chair, are set to give their recommendations to the province by early summer. The experts’ mandate also includes examining the ways regional councillors and heads of council get elected or appointed and whether the distribution of councillors represent the residents well. The review will also look for cost-saving opportunities and ways to deliver services more efficiently. Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington, Ont., said her government is already a lean one. “We’re all about finding efficiencies, there’s no argument there, but you don’t do it with a hatchet, you do it with a handshake,” she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Premier Doug Ford introduced legislation in July that cut Toronto’s council from 47 to 25 and cancelled elections for regional chair positions in Peel, York, Muskoka and Niagara regions, turning them back into appointed roles. At the time, former Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown was running for Peel chair after resigning as party leader over sexual misconduct allegations that he denies. Once that election was axed he successfully ran to become mayor of Brampton, Ont., which is also a part of Peel Region. Brown said he doesn’t assume any inappropriate motivations for putting his municipality under the microscope, and said he hoped the consultations are sincere. “Obviously there are savings when you work in numbers and I would suggest whether it’s waste management or the Peel police it is working well, but you could always make the system better,” he said. Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>
Ontario's Progressive Conservatives have announced a plan Tuesday to comprehensively review the province's regional governments. The review includes all eight regional municipalities — Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County, and the County of Simcoe — and their lower-tier municipalities, according to a government news release. A total of 82 municipalities will be examined, and the province hasn't ruled out the possibility that some could be amalgamated in the future. The PCs say the review will focus on three areas: governance, decision-making and service delivery. "Our government is committed to improving the way regional government works and we will be looking at ways to make better use of taxpayers' dollars and make it easier for residents and businesses to access important municipal services," said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark in a news release. Under former PC premier Mike Harris, Ontario amalgamated a series of local governments ranging from Kawartha Lakes to Toronto in a similar bid to improve efficiency, though the effectiveness of that strategy has been questioned in the years since. Clark declined to say if the province is headed for another round of amalgamation. "There's always opportunity for two municipalities to come together to talk about that aspect, but we're not talking about that in this regional government review," he said during an interview at Queen's Park. In Ontario, upper-tier municipalities or regions typically oversee services such as policing and garbage pickup, while lower-tier muncipalities handle local bylaws. The current system was introduced in the 1970s. MPP Steve Clark insisted that amalgamation is not the goal of the review, but he did not eliminate it as a possibility. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press) Mayors ask for sincere consultations Mayors from around the GTHA were meeting with Toronto Mayor John Tory on Tuesday afternoon as details about the review first emerged. During a news conference following the meeting, several mayors said they would support the review as long as their communities are made part of the process. "Consult with us before unilaterally making changes, consult with our community before making changes and allow us to educate you a little bit on what we think needs to be done," said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie acknowledged that the decades-old system has room for improvement. She noted that the three municipalities that form Peel Region — Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon —are each at different growth stages, with different priorities. "I think this is a great opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship; this is a relationship that is 44 years old now. It perhaps doesn't make sense as the way it used to," she told reporters. Toronto Mayor John Tory hosted mayors from around the GTHA on Tuesday as news of the review was made public. (Mehrdad Nazarahri/CBC) Crombie has said that Mississauga, which is the largest city in the review, could save up up to $30 million if it were made a single-tier municipality like cities in Ontario such as Windsor or Ottawa. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who has had an acrimonious relationship with premier Doug Ford, said he does not see the review as a personal attack on his office. He instead said that a review conducted in good faith could be a useful cost-saving tool. "I wouldn't assume any inappropriate motivations for the change," Brown said. "I just hope that the municipalities and the region will be consulted sincerely as this process unfolds." Province appoints special advisors Michael Fenn, a former deputy minister under three premiers, and Ken Seiling, a former chair of Waterloo Region, have been tapped by the PCs to serve as special advisors during the coming review. Fenn and Seiling will oversee consultations with politicians, bureaucrats, business owners and members of the public who live in the areas included in the review. The consultations are scheduled to begin sometime in early 2019. "Michael Fenn and Ken Seiling bring a wealth of experience that will help us examine if the way regions are governed is working for the people," Clark said. Reviewing all regions a 'large task' Results of the review are expected in early summer, the PCs said. However, political observers are already questioning if such a sweeping and quick review will be effective, especially given the short timeline. "There's a lot of things to cover. Trying to get them all within a single review strikes me as a fairly large task," said Robert Williams, a professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo who studies municipal governance.