Ontario town moving to ward system for electing regional councillors

Whitby’s four regional councillors will be elected by ward instead of at-large, starting with next year’s municipal election.

Whitby Council voted Monday to make the change by a narrow 5-4 margin, with Mayor Elizabeth Roy casting the deciding vote. The change will see one regional councillor elected from each of the town’s existing four wards.

The decision follows an April 2025 direction from council for staff to investigate the pros and cons of both approaches. The resulting report emphasized that the choice isn’t about identifying a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ system but rather selecting the option that best fits Whitby’s unique context, with Roy cautioning the councillors just before the recorded vote that their choice should be about what is best for the residents, not what’s best for their election chances.

The report also looked at how municipalities across the GTA elect their regional councillors, considerations around representation, campaign dynamics including campaign finances, managing constituent inquiries, and the accessibility and accountability of the at-large versus by ward models.

“As Whitby continues to grow, electing regional councillors by ward is an important step forward for our town. It brings us in line with the practice used by many comparable municipalities across the GTA and better aligns Whitby with our neighbouring communities when it comes to representation at Regional Council,” Roy said. “Electing regional councillors by ward ensures that residents have more direct access to representatives who understand the unique needs and priorities of their local neighbourhoods.”

As the next step, council will vote on changes to Whitby’s Council Composition By-Law. The move to elect regional councillors by ward will take effect for the 2026 municipal election with electors being able to vote for the positions of mayor, local ward councillor, and regional ward councillor. The new council composition will be in place for the next term, beginning November 15, 2026.

The system can also encourage a more diverse and inclusive range of candidates, as ward-based elections are typically less costly and more accessible for people seeking public office, the mayor added.

“Ultimately,” Roy said, “this is about strengthening local democracy by ensuring every corner of Whitby has a strong voice at the regional table and that residents feel more connected to the people who represent them.”

Regional Councillors Steve Yamada (North Ward), Chris Leahy (West Ward) and Maleeha Saheed (Centre Ward) and local councillor Victoria Bozinovski (East Ward) voted against electing regional councillors via the ward system.

Yamada attempted to delay the vote until after a ward review but his amendment was defeated.

Council debate on the motion centred on lowering financial barriers for candidates, potential efficiencies for constituents in terms of knowing who to contact for regional issues and less dependency on developers in a ward system.

Whitby, the only town among Durham Region’s five urban lakeshore communities on to currently elect their regional councillors town-wide, had an opportunity to make the change in 2020 but then-Mayor Don Mitchell – after earlier pledging his support for the idea – voted against the motion.