Simcoe County's warden would be appointed by the province and county council would shrink in size under new legislation introduced at Queen's Park on April 2.
The proposed Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, tabled by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, would let the minister appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County, according to GTA Today.
Those appointed leaders would also receive "strong chair" powers, described as similar to the existing "strong mayor" authorities, meant to speed up decisions and advance provincial priorities such as housing and infrastructure.
For Simcoe County, the bill's most direct impact would be a smaller council. The legislation calls for reducing the size of councils in Niagara Region and Simcoe County, which the province says currently have disproportionately large governing bodies compared with other municipalities.
The province argues the changes would reduce duplication, lower governance costs and improve decision-making efficiency.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack said the changes are intended to improve efficiency and better align municipal and provincial objectives.
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
Flack made the comment in a statement, according to GTA Today.
The bill also proposes a weighted voting system for affected councils, allowing members to carry votes proportional to population or other factors. The province says the measure is meant to preserve fair representation while councils get smaller.
The legislation arrives weeks before the May 1 municipal nomination deadline, giving municipalities and candidates time to prepare for possible structural changes ahead of this fall's election.
A shift in how regional leaders are chosen
Ontario's upper-tier municipalities currently choose their leaders in a mix of ways. Some chairs are directly elected by voters, others are appointed by councils, and in some cases the province has used its own appointment authority.
The new legislation would standardize the appointed-chair approach across the identified regions, which include Simcoe County and neighbouring York Region, while expanding executive authority at the regional level.
The province says the reforms are part of a broader strategy to manage rapid population growth and support economic development. It notes some regions are projected to see significant population increases over the coming decades, raising the need for coordinated planning and infrastructure investment.
Niagara Region would be temporarily exempt from required council composition reviews in 2026, with regular reviews resuming after the 2034 municipal election.
The province says it will keep working with municipal governments to refine governance structures and ensure effective representation, and that the changes are aimed at strengthening collaboration between municipalities and Queen's Park on housing supply, infrastructure delivery and economic growth.
