Ontario Introducing Legislation to Strengthen Regional Governance
April 2, 2026
Proposed changes would help local leaders speed up decision-making, reduce costs and expedite housing and infrastructure
TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government introduced the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 that would, if passed, make a number of changes to the way regional governments function in some of Ontario’s fastest growing regions. These changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities. The proposed changes include giving the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power to appoint upper-tier council chairs in eight fast-growing regions and granting these council chairs “strong chair” powers to help them deliver on government priorities, such as housing and infrastructure. The proposed legislation would also reduce the cost of government and support efficient decision-making in Niagara Region and Simcoe County by reducing the size of Simcoe County Council and Niagara Regional Council.
“We will always support our municipal partners, both lower- and upper-tier, in delivering locally led solutions that offer better value for taxpayers and speed up decision-making,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “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.”
The proposed Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 and related regulatory changes would enable the following:
- Allow the Minister to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County. Under previous legislation, the Minister had the authority to appoint chairs in Niagara, Peel and York regions for the 2022-2026 council term only.
- Regional chairs in the eight municipalities listed above would receive “strong chair” powers which mirror “strong mayor” powers, providing more efficient, streamlined local decision-making, enabling them to deliver faster results for residents and support efforts to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities.
- The number of municipal elected officials in Simcoe (population 351,927) and Niagara (population 477,941) is significantly higher than many other comparable municipalities in the province. For instance, Niagara region has 126 local elected officials across its upper and lower-tier councils. By comparison, Toronto City Council has 26 members for a population of over three million and Queen’s Park has 124 MPPs representing over 16 million people across the province. This increases the cost of government for local taxpayers and creates dysfunction at council. To address these concerns, the government is proposing the following changes:
- In response to a request from the county warden, Simcoe County Council would be reduced from 32 members to 17. The new council would be made up of mayors of the 16 lower-tier municipalities, plus the warden.
- Niagara Regional Council would be reduced from 32 members to 13 members. The new council would include the mayors of each of Niagara’s 12 lower-tier municipalities plus the regional chair.
To facilitate the transition to the new council structure and ensure appropriate and effective representation, the government would also work with local municipal leadership to develop a weighted voting framework, which is already in force in Simcoe County and would be applied in Niagara Region.
All regions must review their council composition following the 2026 municipal election. Niagara Region would be exempt in 2026 and would return to regular reviews after the 2034 municipal election. The government will continue working with municipalities to identify ways to strengthen local governance in Niagara, Simcoe and beyond. Working together to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities helps advance housing and economic development, preparing both individual municipalities and the province as a whole for growth.
Quick Facts
- Currently, the heads of council of upper-tier municipalities have been selected using different methods – in Durham, Halton and Waterloo they were elected by the voters; in Peel, Muskoka and Simcoe County, they were appointed by the upper-tier council; and in Niagara and York they were appointed by the Minister.
- When Simcoe County tried to reduce its own council size, it received support from both county council and lower tier municipalities representing a majority of Simcoe County’s eligible voters. However, it lost on a tie – eight lower-tier municipalities supported reducing the size of county council, while eight lower-tiers were opposed.
- Weighted voting is a system where each member of council may be assigned a different number of votes. The number can be determined by many factors, including population or the number of electors in the ward represented. Since different individual members of council may have a different number of votes, in a weighted vote, a simple “majority of members” may be different from the “majority of weighted votes.”
- The proposed amendments would also provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with regulation-making authority to set out weighted voting rules for upper-tier municipal councils starting with the term following the 2026 regular election.
- The government is announcing these changes in advance of the May 1, 2026, nomination deadline to give municipalities and candidates time to prepare for the fall municipal election.
Quotes
“Strong regional leadership is essential to get more homes built and reduce costs in communities like Muskoka and across Ontario. Our government is taking steps to ensure regional governments, like the District of Muskoka, can move forward with a clear vision and streamlined processes that better serve residents and taxpayers. Managing growth while protecting the unique character of our area will always remain paramount.”
– Graydon Smith
Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka
“Simcoe County is the largest and one of the fastest growing counties in Ontario and an important municipal partner for our government. At the County’s request and after years of internal discussion, our government is taking action to modernize Council composition, to make the County more responsive, and more efficient. We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the County and serve the residents of Simcoe.”
– Brian Saunderson
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Simcoe-Grey
“Regional leadership is vital to building strong, resilient communities. This legislation is a meaningful step forward in our government’s plan to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to navigate economic uncertainty, remove barriers to building homes faster, and support long-term growth across Ontario. We will continue working with local leaders across Simcoe County to deliver results for families, unlock new opportunities, and build a stronger, more resilient region.”
– Doug Downey
MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte
“Local governments are essential partners in delivering on the priorities that matter most to Ontarians and in ensuring our province remains strong in the face of economic uncertainty. This act would help strengthen alignment between municipal and provincial priorities and will support more coordinated decision-making, clearer accountability and the ability to advance key initiatives that benefit our communities.”
– Jill Dunlop
MPP for Simcoe North
“The county asked for these changes, and our government is acting. Our community cannot afford any more delays or red tape when it comes to building housing, delivering infrastructure and supporting economic growth. This legislation would help communities move forward with housing and infrastructure projects that support long term prosperity.”
– Andrea Khanjin
MPP for Barrie-Innisfil
“Municipalities are key partners in our plan to protect Ontario. By strengthening our regional governance, we are empowering municipalities with stronger tools to respond more effectively and efficiently to the challenges they face in their communities.”
– Caroline Mulroney
MPP for York-Simcoe
“The population of Niagara is projected to increase to over 700,000 residents by 2051, a significant transformation which will require new and innovative approaches to municipal governance and long-term planning. In a growing region like ours, it’s important to plan for the well-being and success of future generations who will call Niagara home. With the changes proposed for our region through the Better Regional Governance Act, Niagara will be ready to lead the province as a preferred place to live, work and visit.”
– Sam Oosterhoff
MPP for Niagara West
“We thank Premier Ford and Minister Flack for their decision and direction. While our governance model has served the County effectively for many decades, there is recognition that further streamlining decision‑making will better support the needs of our communities. This reduction in the size of Council, which was previously recommended by County Council, advances our ongoing efforts to be responsive and cost‑efficient for residents, while continuing to ensure strong local decision‑making at County Council through the leadership of our 16 lower-tier mayors. With growth in our services, there is also a strong need for a full-time Head of Council to focus on the interests of our residents and communities. These changes will help strengthen our ability to serve our growing region effectively.”
– Basil Clarke
Warden, Simcoe County
“Change is long overdue in Niagara and the status quo is not an option. Taxes are too high because of duplication and inefficiencies and we need to streamline. No elected official will vote him or herself out of a job. We need this bold move from the Ontario government.”
– Jim Diodati
Mayor, City of Niagara Falls
“I would like to personally thank the Ford government for making governance changes in Niagara. I believe this will lead to a more effective and efficient system that will benefit communities, residents and businesses within the Niagara Region.”
– Frank Campion
Mayor, City of Welland
“Regional governance reform is a critical step toward ensuring fair, efficient, and accountable decision making across our communities. We look forward to working with the province to find the right balance of weighted voting representation that reflects both population and local voice.”
– Sandra Easton
Mayor, Town of Lincoln
“Streamlining decision-making across Niagara is essential to delivering the Destination Niagara Strategy and supporting the region’s long-term growth. Premier Ford’s recent $300 million investment underscores the importance of this work, and Niagara Parks, as a self-funded agency that receives no tax dollars, looks forward to continuing to work with our partners to enhance the visitor experience and keep Niagara among the best places in the world to visit.”
– Graham Coveney
Chair, Niagara Parks Commission
“Regional governance reform is a vital opportunity to strengthen collaboration and strategic decision making that supports the entire visitor economy. As a current Board Member, the Tourism Partnership of Niagara looks forward to working with all partners to move Destination Niagara forward and ensure our region remains one of the most inspiring and sought after places to visit in the world.”
– Mory Di Maurizio
Board Member, Tourism Partnership of Niagara
“The Niagara Home Builders’ Association supports regional governance reform as an important step toward building a more efficient and responsive system that helps get homes and infrastructure built faster. We look forward to working collaboratively with the province and local municipalities to create the conditions needed to meet Niagara’s growing housing and community needs.”
– Kelly Anderson
Chair of the Niagara Home Builders Association
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