Eren Yoruk
Waterloo, ON – Waterloo Region Council is pushing back against a new provincial governance model that could allow one person to serve as both Mayor and Regional Chair.
Cambridge Regional Councillor Doug Craig introduced the motion, warning that combining the two roles could create conflicts of interest and concentrate too much executive power in one person under Ontario’s Strong Mayor and Strong Chair systems.
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe backed the motion, calling the combination of Strong Mayor and Strong Chair powers “a recipe for disaster.” She also argued that Strong Mayor powers have not necessarily accelerated housing approvals.
Craig and McCabe also criticized Ontario’s decision to appoint the next Regional Chair rather than have the position filled through an election.
Waterloo Region residents have directly elected their Regional Chair since 1997. Under the province’s new governance rules, Ontario will appoint the next Chair following the 2026 municipal election.
Regional Council passed Craig’s motion unanimously. The resolution will now go to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local MPPs, area municipalities and other affected regional municipalities.