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 and voting themselves a 27%!!! raise.
While residents struggle with inflation.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/district-council-defeats-attempt-to-reduce-proposed-increase-to-councillor-pay/
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.
District staff blamed residents!! for not noticing the District’s $300K tax error.
For eleven years!! Ridiculous.
Video of that is on the website “Oppose Bracebridge Sewers.”
Even though they admitted they had no right to the money, staff recommended keeping it.
They were scolded for that suggestion.
Apparently District staff is not aware the federal Criminal Code trumps any of their little bylaws.
Or even aware what is right from wrong.
When a few of the Gravenhurst residents fiercely complained to the District and wanted all their money back 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.
Provincial laws were broken. The District admitted that on TV.
A link to video of their confession is also 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 especially for the multitude of foolish councillors.
The District of Muskoka needs to go.
Just like Peel.
We need Doug Ford to nuke the wasteful District of Muskoka.
The current situation is hopeless.
Why is the municipal level of government the worst?
Because there is no official opposition to point out how bad, even illegal, their decisions are or what they are really up to.