Process to chop Simcoe County council size in half expected to end tomorrow

 

Posted August 11, 2025

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Simcoe County council will meet tomorrow morning (virtually) for the first time since the bylaw to change its composition failed to reach the triple majority threshold while touring the 16 member municipalities.​

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Step 1 of the triple majority process was achieved when County Council enacted the Bylaw on April 22, 2025.

Step 2 of triple majority was not achieved because only eight lower tier councils voted in support, and a majority required nine.

Step 3 of triple majority was achieved by a wide margin as the total number of electors represented by municipalities that have provided consent was 173,442 out of the 290,341 total number of electors. The non-consent was145,171.

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If the triple majority conditions are not met by January 1, 2026, the or any proposed changes are not confirmed by then, the Bylaw will self-repeal on January 1, 2026 and not come into force for the next term of Council. County Council’s current composition of 32 members and a Warden elected from within would remain unchanged.

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"Council could choose to provide direction to staff to prepare an alternative composition structure if it wishes to continue to pursue a change to Council composition. However, time is of the essence. ..... In addition, staff will need time to develop a draft Bylaw reflecting an alternative proposal and the Municipal Act requires a public meeting be held," according to the report to County councillors.

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"Governance Committee continues to have a mandate to consider ways and means to enhance the governance structure and decision-making process. This will be true for the remainder of the term and into the next term as well if a future Council chooses to revisit the topic of Council composition."