As readers will know, I am generally supportive of the Ford government in Ontario. Not just out of partisanship but because Doug Ford is an activist premier, actually getting things done, not always doing the popular thing, and not always doing the right thing, but always fighting for Ontario and Canada. Unlike some political leaders who simply pontificate and posture, Ford is out there doing things, many of which need to be addressed.
However, legislation that the Ford government introduced on Thursday, which, among other things, will allow the government to appoint the Chair of the District Municipality of Muskoka, is just plain wrong. In my view, at its worst, it challenges democratic principles and carries a slight odour of Trumpism.
Under the proposed legislation, the province, effectively the premier, will decide who will be the chair of eight regional, district, or county jurisdictions in Ontario, including Muskoka. The rationale for this legislation is that it will lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better align regional decision-making with shared regional-provincial priorities.
Robert Flack, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said, “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.”
I beg to differ.
The Minister also said that the government would always support their municipal partners, both lower and upper-tier, in delivering locally led solutions. That simply flies in the face of the proposed legislation, which seeks greater control over decisions made by municipal councils. To call it anything else is simply misleading.
I am all for cutting unnecessary red tape to get things done, but I do not agree with the control and centralization of power that diminishes the purpose of municipal councils, which is to act solely in the best interests of the communities they serve.
A major problem with the proposed legislation is that it does just that. It makes the appointment of the District or regional chair a partisan appointment, accountable not to the council and not to the people in their constituencies, but only to the premier and the political party of the day.
In terms of Muskoka, a comment by former Deputy District Chair Lori-Lynn Giaschi-Pacini got it right when she said in part, “This will be the end of local and regional governments as we have known them. These two governments have never been a part of party politics but with this move that will change everything.”
I am not happy with the way the District Chair in Muskoka is chosen now. But at least Jeff Lehman was chosen by elected people in Muskoka with differing political views, who had an opportunity to assess him and the other candidates for District Chair and make an informed decision based on Muskoka principles.
Although I had an issue with the manner in which Jeff Lehman qualified for election, and my wish remains that he actually lived in Muskoka, it is my view that he has been an excellent District Chair, always acting in the best interest of Muskoka and never interfering in the business of lower-tier municipalities. I believe that is in part because his candidacy was assessed by local elected people.
The proposed legislation will allow the provincial government, not just Premier Ford, but long after he is gone, to appoint whomever they want as the District Chair of Muskoka. It is not a prerequisite that they have knowledge of Muskoka or that they live anywhere near here. Theoretically, it could be someone’s best friend, a relative, or a pure patronage appointment.
What is not theoretical is that the loyalty and accountability of that individual will be to the government that appointed them and not to the municipality they serve. It would not surprise me if appointed regional and district chairs received mandate letters from the government telling them what to do, just as cabinet ministers currently receive.
Another question that is fair to ask is if the Ford government believes it is fair ball to directly appoint regional and district chairs, what is the prospect of them eventually deciding to appoint municipal mayors as well?
The proposed legislation tabled by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing last week also signals an intent to mirror the Strong Mayor’s Act with similar powers for regional and district chairs. Another mistake, which is poorly thought out, in my view.
What happens, for instance, if the District Chair in Muskoka exercises Strong Chair Powers that are in conflict with similar powers exercised by mayors of lower-tier municipalities? Who wins? In my view, this legislation promotes more potential conflict between upper and lower-tier municipalities than currently exists.
I recognize that municipalities, like school boards, are creatures of the provincial government. But with this legislation, the Ford government is weakening the traditional and democratic relationship between municipalities and the Ontario government.
The province can always overrule municipal decisions they do not like, but they should not be interfering with the democratic process of local governance by stacking the deck and attempting to control it from the inside. It obviates the reason for having municipalities in the first place.
Also, the Ford government should be careful what they wish for. The more control they exercise over municipalities, the less they will be able to escape responsibility and blame them when things go wrong, as they inevitably will. Every government likes to have that cushion, the political ability to blame someone else.
What disturbs me most about this legislation is that it goes completely in the wrong direction. I have long been an advocate for the reform of District government in Muskoka.
But not this way.
We have too much local governance here. Based on population, even including seasonal residents, it is likely one of the most over-governed municipalities in Ontario. We do not need more government participation at either the provincial or municipal levels. We need less.
Equally important, we need a governance structure that holds the District government, its responsibilities, and its expenditures directly accountable to the electorate, in the same manner that local, lower-tier municipalities are held accountable. Despite what some people say, we do not have that now.
I came to the conclusion some years ago that with Muskoka District Council in its present form, its chair should be elected at large, across the entire district. Whether we like it or not, he or she holds the most powerful position in Muskoka, with a humongous budget and responsibilities across the entire district. The holder of that office should be elected by voters in Muskoka, and no one else, just as the lower-tier mayors are.
Ironically, Premier Ford once thought that too, because early in his term of office, he insisted on that for Muskoka and some other regional municipalities, changing his mind abruptly two weeks before that election, primarily because of differences he had with Patrick Brown, now Mayor of Brampton, who at the time was seeking election as Chair of the Region of Peel.
Yes, the Muskoka district government needs reform. But what the Ford government is proposing just doesn’t cut it. This legislation needs to be withdrawn.
As it stands, it is just plain wrong.
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 South Muskoka Doppler.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox six times per week!
Click here to support local news
I think the ‘fool on the hill’ and his manic minion are overstepping just a bit. ‘the donald’ claims to know what God is thinking. I suppose we should all have an idea as to what our God thinks. And they suggest too, that God has picked a side. I don’t think we should be getting into the bit about “God is on our side.” The crusades are long past. The marching at the head of an army with a cross on the banner has already been done. And such a bad location to get into religion. Even in a board game. And yet they have.
I find it rather curious that a rescued pilot/weapons system officer. would state “God is good”. I’m glad he’s home safe, but I’m sure he wasn’t there to promote good will. ‘Though the statement causes me to wonder.
Was He good when He let that fool put you in harms way?
Or how good was it that an ‘alternate believer’ with a simple, hand held SSM (surface to surface) missile fetched you down.
How ’bout when you found yourself wounded and living in a crack in a rock?
How was your head, considering a good portion of a local populace was seeking you. You and I can imagine their intention. Good with all that?
But, your first comment, so they claim, was that “God is good”. Just covering the bases? If I am right to assume your God is the same as mine, His view on war is rather complex
“Take the sword. Perish by the sword.” “A time for war a time for peace”. “Vengeance is mine.” And in the scriptures, I think he is speaking mostly to Israelites and against murder. I’m sure there are those who will profess otherwise.
We were given the freedom of choice and faith. My choice, ‘though biased I’m sure, might be a charred ‘rump of trump’ , bolt of lightning still firmly attached. And the speech bubble from a cloud over minion Hegseth would read “coming for ya”.
That would look good to me. Might not be a loss. Maybe just an attitude adjustment.
Just like King Trump, Doug Ford believes democracy and transparency are just red tape preventing him from dictating and getting things done his way.
Now along with the strong mayor powers Ford will also be able to override the multitude of elected councillors in Muskoka by appointing the new chair/Ford’s personal minion.
Just like Trump hired many unqualified personal minions.
And fired those qualified who could challenge Trump.
Might as well eliminate councillors and at least save taxpayers some wasted dollars.
It’s no wonder Ford has a “majority” when only 16% of registered voters voted for him.
Only 40% voted and Ford got 40% of those or 16%.
Why bother voting when politicians like Ford say one thing during the campaign and once elected do the opposite?
Next election less than 1/3 will likely bother to vote.
Democracy is rapidly fading into history.
Thanks for your words on this Hugh, your voice is an important one and I am grateful that you used your platform to speak up about this. The head of council needs to be chosen in Muskoka by people from Muskoka. This legislation cannot go through, it is a clear and undeniable reduction of our democracy.
Mr McKenzie,
In my opinion you have explained this very well, for the average person to understand.
I agree with what you have written 100%
Doug Ford is totally out of line in this situation.
I’d like to take a stab at George Gilley’s request for a piece on the misuse of power by the Ontario provincial conservatives. I’ll make it short and will only focus on the recent insane $8.8B deal between the conservatives and the federal government.
The bare facts of this deal are nauseating: Ford and Carney are admitting that municipalities are so badly managed they need very high development fees to cover the costs of their excesses. Developers can’t pay these costs and develop housing that is affordable to us humans. What is the solution for too much red tape and excess government? According to Ford and Carney it is more red tape and government.
Ford’s statement “Our government will continue to deliver on our plan to protect Ontario in partnership with the federal government and municipalities by lowering the cost of building, getting shovels in the ground faster, cutting red tape and investing in workers,” is laughable. A better statement would be “Our government is going to take money out of your right pocket and put some of it into your left pocket, the difference being the red tape cost of moving money between pockets.”
This will do nothing to curb the excess of our municipal governments. In Huntsville in 2025, there were 27 people on the Sunshine List (https://www.ontariosunshinelist.com/employers/town-of-huntsville), the average salary being almost $125,000 annually. How many readers of this blog make more than $100,000 per year? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The common measure for the size of the government in Canada is percent of spending divided by GDP. This amounts to about 44%. Can you imagine the implications of that number? But the Macdonald Laurier Institute (https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/size-of-government-in-canada/) estimates the real number is closer to 64%.
Hang on to your hats Canadians, our municipal, provincial and federal governments are completely out of control and all they want to do is extend the chaos.
I am currently visiting my old Muskoka haunts and heard about this from a long time friend,
Cheryl Hollows from Muskoka Lakes. I agree, District Chair should be a Muskoka wide election. I knew when I ran for the position that it was most unlikely that the male dominated Council and the “Old Boys Network’ would elect me. I would have had a better chance had there been more electors – especially from the Townships.
I share your views on this issue 100%.
I’ve not really seen any government (certainly not in this municipality) held accountable for anything. The same people keep voting for the same nonsense repeatedly.
Thank you Hugh for a clear and reasoned report of why Mr. Ford’s proposed legislation is both undemocratic and dangerous. We must keep our regional government independent and responsible to the citizens of Muskoka.
Elspeth Hogg
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.
It sounds like something Trudeau or carney would do. Trump is actually making American great again. He says what he is going to do then he does it. Not like carney and Trudeau who say all the things they are going to to.make Canada great again And they don’t do anything to help Canadians and Canada. Trump.is not ruining Canada carney and Trudeau have done this. I wish people would pay attention to what is going on in Canada and leave the USA out of our problems . They are not causing our problems that is our own government.
Dear Kathryn. Ford is provincial.
You don’t watch the news do you ?
How is Trumps approval rating going?
How is Carneys approval rating going ?
How is PPs approval rating going ?
Of the 3 politicians above, only one has a good approval rating. I’m not going to tell you who it is. Watch the news to find out.
Thank you Mr. Mackenzie, as usual you’ve hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately Premier Ford seems to believe he knows more than the rest of the population, and is acting accordingly. We need to stand up and tell him to back off, a la Greenbelt fiasco.
Thank you for your excellent articles, and keeping us informed.
The democratic process in Ontario is eroding quickly in Ontario. This is coming from a senior who has been a conservative for most of his life. It started with strong powers given to the Mayor of local councils. The Mayor can overrule his/her entire Council on any matter. In reality, the Councillor you elected is a pawn of the Mayor. In fact, a lower tier municipality has the potential of becoming autocratic if you have a Mayor who wants to have absolute power.
Now, Premier Ford is reshaping the upper tier municipalities in Ontario and choosing the Chairperson of the District/County council. In addition, giving strong Chairperson powers to his chosen minion. Depending on the Chairperson appointed.elected councillors may have no authority in making decisions under this structure.
I certainly am in favour of making our councils more efficient and reducing their size to expedite decisions but the format imposed on lower tier councils and the proposed plan to be implemented at District/County governments is not democratic. Having and imposing strong powers to the leaders of Council is extremely dangerous and the potential of misuse and corruption increases dramatically.
In Muskoka, with our lower and upper tiers of municipal governments we have 52 politicians making decisions for a 66,674 Muskoka population (2021 Census). The ratio is 1 politician for 1282 residents. Ratio of politicians to residents in:
Barrie 1:15,182
Newmarket 1:10,000 residents
Orangeville 1:4309
Gravenhurst 1:1462
Bracebridge 1:1923
Twp. of Muskoka Lakes 1: 765
Town of Huntsville 1:2359
Township of Georgian Bay 1:491.5
Township of Lake of Bays 1:537
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE: The ratio of politicians in Muskoka to residents is extremely low in comparison to other municipalities. In past years it has been suggested that Muskoka be a one tier municipality making it more efficient. The departments in smaller municipalities can be amalgamated with the departments at the District level. No longer would citizens be confused with whether they should be dealing with a certain department at the town level or the district level.
In Muskoka, do we need to have 6 Mayors and one District Chairperson? Do we need 7 C.A.O’s, 7 Department Heads etc. for each service provided? No!
This is not a new concept. In 1971 the District was restructured. For instance, the Town of Gravenhurst was amalgamated with Morrison Township, Ryde Township and parts of Medora, Muskoka, and Wood Townships. These smaller townships are still referred to as Medora, Morrison, Ryde, Muskoka and Wood by many people. They have signs in their communities reminding people of their history. Overall, services have improved. Sure, one municipality with one name is a HUGE change. But each municipality will still be referred to by their current name.
Perhaps, it is time for the Province to allow the Counties/Districts in Ontario to restructure again and remain a democratic government by scrapping the Strong Mayor and the proposed Strong Chairperson Powers.
I totally agree. Our Municipal electoral system currently operates in a way that is closest to a democracy. The Provincial and Federal systems both give a disproportionate amount of power to a party leader and has, as a result, made accountability more difficult to enforce. We’re now being governed by a breed of politician motivated by their desire to control and promote their own agenda rather than serve the needs and wishes of those they are elected to represent. Our democratic process is slowly and subtly being eroded and this power grab by the Ford government is another example of that.
The District is a horrible fiscal manager and full of red tape that no one, including the past and present Chairs have an interest to address. Perhaps this change will help get costs under control and cut the plump bureaucracy.
It gets worse. Doug Ford prefers opaque government not transparent. He actually created a law to continue to keep his phone records a secret. “The Ontario government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has proposed changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) that would make records from the Premier’s office, cabinet ministers, and their staff exempt from public disclosure. These changes, tabled in the 2026 budget, are retroactive and aim to protect government, particularly personal cell phone logs, from public scrutiny.”
Well done, Hugh!
With your long-time experience as a Muskoka politician, former District Chair, journalist and advisor to many provincial and federal politicians, you understand local government, particularly in Muskoka.
I could not concur more with your observations. The Ford Government with its announcement this past Thursday to appoint a District Chair and then give them “strong powers” has gone a step too far.
If this is about “…expediting housing and infrastructure development,” as stated in Thursday’s press release, then Muskoka District Council under the leadership of Chair Jeff Lehman has been delivering on these provincial priorities.