Durham chair opposes Ontario plan to appoint regional leaders

Durham Region chair John Henry is urging Ontario to keep regional chairs elected rather than moving to provincial appointments under Bill 100. He says residents should choose who represents them, pointing to a 2010 referendum in which Durham voters backed an elected chair. Henry, who was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, said an appointed chair may not understand the needs of a large and varied region. He argued the job requires regular contact with communities across Durham, along with responsibilities that can include emergency response and regional advocacy. The province says the new law would let it appoint chairs in eight Ontario regions and give them stronger powers aimed at advancing housing and infrastructure goals. Municipal leaders, including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, criticized the move as undemocratic and said appointed chairs should at least meet minimum standards such as living in the region.