Springwater council at odds over ward boundary review before it starts

Voting in an election — municipal, provincial or federal — is one of the most important things an individual can do.

To ensure every vote has value, municipalities have to ensure every election is fair and has equitable representation. 

That’s why a special council meeting being held in Springwater Township on Wednesday, May 1 beginning at 4:30 p.m. should be of interest to all local residents.

Watson and Associates Economists will be presenting its ward boundary review for the township, an introductory council workshop. The session is designed to “prepare council to consider and discuss whether to maintain the existing ward boundaries or pursue an alternative arrangement.”

The township will then have to decide whether it wants to retain its current ward system or opt to go with the at-large system.

In the ward system, the municipality is divided into a number of electoral districts. All residents vote for mayor and deputy mayor, and then select a councillor for the electoral district in which they live.

In an at-large system, every eligible voter votes for mayor, deputy mayor and all councillors, regardless of where they live in the municipality.

Experts say there are pros and cons to each system and it’s up to each municipality — its residents and its council members — to find the system that works best for them.

While elections themselves are subject to numerous standard practices related to elector and candidate eligibility, nominations, financial accountability and other institutional arrangements that are set out in detail, the system of representation is described in minimal terms. 

The Municipal Act, 2001 says that “other than the head of council, members shall be elected by general vote or wards or by any combination of general vote and wards." The provincial legislation authorizes a municipality “to divide or redivide the municipality into wards or to dissolve the existing wards” through a bylaw. 

Beyond those brief references, there are no conditions or constraints imposed by the province to help formulate a local decision to adopt one electoral system or another.

Based on a discussion from the March 20 meeting, some members of Springwater council have already made up their minds.

At that meeting, Coun. Phil Fisher brought forth a notice of motion recommending the township “affirms its intent to retain the ward system.” 

It was met with instant resistance.

“I see this motion as being a bit pre-emptive,” said Coun. Matt Garwood. “As we know, and was just discussed by (township clerk Renee Ainsworth), this council has budgeted funds to commence a ward boundary review and also, as just noted, this review hasn’t even started at the time this motion has come forward.

“We talk about making data-driven decisions and, in this case, in my opinion, we haven’t received the data yet,” he added.

Garwood said he wanted to support the motion, but couldn’t until the ward boundary review was complete, a recommendation was presented to council and members had the opportunity to exercise a full review of the recommendations.

“You’re a 100 per cent right, Coun. Garwood. It is pre-emptive and I’ll tell you why it’s pre-emptive and why I’m bringing it forward,” Fisher said “I have 50,000 reasons why I'm bringing it forward.

“We’re about to spend $50,000 of taxpayers’ dollars and what I’m hearing, and I mean this with all due respect, and hearing from you, is that we’re still open to using their money to do a ward boundary review and it’s simply going in a totally different direction," he added. 

Fisher said he's not in favour of spending $50,000 to "entertain scrapping the whole system."

The $50,000 Fisher says he’s not in favour of spending on a ward boundary review has already been spent, as it was included in the 2024 budget council approved.

Jeff Schmidt, the township's chief administrative officer, advised council against cancelling the contract with Watson and Associates Economists.

“I would indicate to council that if that’s your choice, be cautious, because the contract is executed, so there are implications there,” Schmidt said. “I caution you in blocking that path.”

According to Ainsworth, Fisher’s motion has no impact on what the consultant will deliver to the township.

“A motion such as this won’t affect how the ward boundary review process will take place,” the clerk said. “The consultants will continue as originally planned.”

According to Ainsworth, the consultants will include all of the comments they receive through the public consultation process from residents and electors, whether they are in favour of one system or the other.

“They are obligated to bring forward any other comments that are material to the process,” she said.