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Municipalities split evenly on changes to Simcoe County Council representatives

August 21, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Simcoe County Council has released the results of the triple majority process undertaken by the 16 municipalities in the County.

Council has proposed reducing County Council from 32 representatives, including the Warden, to 16 representatives and a full-time appointed Warden.

The endorsement, made in April 2025, was in County by-law 7119-25.

The vote at the lower-tier level resulted in a tie, with eight member municipalities providing consent and eight providing non-consent.

While the full triple majority requirement under the Municipal Act was not achieved, two of the three conditions were met.

Given the outcome, County Council approved a resolution through a weighted vote.

The resolution states: That the Warden write a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to request the Province intervene to allow Council Composition by-law 7119-25 to be considered valid notwithstanding the ‘triple majority’ requirements set out in Section 219 of the Municipal Act.

A letter from Warden Basil Clarke will be sent to The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for consideration. Any outcomes or feedback will be presented to County Council once available.

Under the Triple Majority process, as defined in the provision of Ontario’s Municipal Act 2001, County Council must pass the by-law. The majority of lower-tier municipalities must consent, and the member municipalities that consent must represent a majority of Simcoe County electors. 

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