People can now sign up to weigh in on the regional government review — in person
In-person meetings will be held between April 16 and May 17
People who want to give feedback to the province on its review of regional governments can now apply to do so in person.
The province is currently reviewing 82 upper and lower municipalities: Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County and the County of Simcoe.
Starting on Wednesday, people and organizations can register online to make presentations to the province's special advisers, former deputy minister and municipal chief administrator Michael Fenn and former Region of Waterloo chair Ken Seiling.
Meetings will be held in the regional municipalities covered by the review on the following dates:
- April 16 at the Oxford County council chambers in Woodstock.
- April 24 at the Region of Waterloo council chambers in Kitchener.
- April 29 at the Durham Region council chambers in Whitby.
- May 1 at the Niagara Region council chambers in Thorold.
- May 6 at the York Region Administrative Centre in Newmarket.
- May 8 at the Peel Region council chambers in Brampton.
- May 13 at the Simcoe County council chambers in Midhurst.
- May 14 at the Muskoka District committee room in Bracebridge.
- May 17 at Halton Region council chambers in Oakville.
More information on how to sign up for those consultations are expected to be posted to the government's website on Wednesday.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said in a release that it's important to him "people who live, work and spend time in the municipalities covered by the review can share their thoughts on how we can improve regional governance."
People can also offer their thoughts on the review in an online survey. The deadline for submissions to the online consultations has been extended from April 23 to May 21.
Seiling and Fenn have been meeting with officials from the municipalities since mid-January. They are expected to prepare a report for Clark this summer.
The province has not ruled out the possibility that some municipalities could be amalgamated, although Clark has said the province has made no decisions yet.
"There is no report on my desk. There is no preconceived conclusions for this," Clark said in an interview in March. "We want people to feel free to give us their comments."