Mayor Bradford is calling for changes to Simcoe County’s governing structure

PRESS RELEASE
TOWN OF BRADFORD WEST GWILLIMBURY
**************************
Today, Mayor James Leduc appeared before the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for the third time, advocating for change in Simcoe County’s governing structure.

“We are grateful for the committee’s work and hope they will work to ensure fair and efficient government in Simcoe County,” said Mayor James Leduc. “With a more efficient and effective governance structure, better decisions should be made on key challenges, including the provision of infrastructure to support housing production and employment growth.”

In his submission to the committee, Mayor Leduc emphasized the need to:

1. ensuring fair democratic representation for all member municipalities;
2. there are structures and practices that ensure effective decision-making and good governance;
3. service area responsibilities are clearly defined, aligned and avoid duplicated or overly cumbersome processes; and,
4. lower level municipalities have greater autonomy.

Mayor Leduc noted that it can be a challenge for high-growth municipalities in southern Simcoe County to ensure that county investments, programs and service delivery meet the needs of the rapidly urbanizing area, which is planned to house a significant portion of the area. Housing and employment growth in the county.

“Just three municipalities, the cities of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and New Tecumseth located in southern Simcoe County, form one of the fastest growing regions in the country,” said Mayor Leduc. “Together, taxpayers in these three municipalities contribute 37% of the county’s tax base, but are represented by only 19% of the faces around the council table – that’s nearly 40% of the budget represented by less than 20% of the council.”

Mayor Leduc asked the commission to address this imbalance: “I ask that fair representation and financial balance be established for south Simcoe either through legislative changes imposed by the provincial government or through clearly articulated directives issued to the County Council.”

“Reform of Simcoe County’s decades-old governing structure is needed to best position this beautiful part of Ontario for success. We look forward to working with your committee and the province to define and implement that optimal structure.” concluded Mayor Leduc.

Bradford West Gwillimbury is one of Canada’s fastest growing communities, located just north of Vaughan and just south of Barrie. The community is known for its prime farmland, including Holland Marsh, “Canada’s soup and salad bowl.” Strategically located along the 400 freeway and the Barrie GO train line, the city is seeing significant investment from major industrial and commercial enterprises and is implementing a sustainable plan as it grows to a population of over 80,000 in the coming years.

Below are notes for the mayor of Leduc:

Just three municipalities, the cities of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and New Tecumseth located in southern Simcoe County, form one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Together, taxpayers in these three municipalities contribute 37 percent of the county’s tax base, but are represented by only 19 percent of the faces around the council table — that’s nearly 40 percent of the budget represented by less than 20 percent of the council.

The City of BWG took a deep dive into this situation in 2018. We tried to determine if our taxpayers were getting fair value for their contributions to county budgets. To look at just two examples, we found that on a per household cost basis, BWG ratepayers paid 19% more for paramedical services and social housing than the county average and 26% more than households in the separate cities of Barrie and Orillia. Same provider, but we pay more for less service.

This disparity is getting worse. Between 2009 and 2024, we estimate BWG’s assessment growth to grow 8.7% annually, while the rest of Simcoe County grew at a lower rate of 4.9%.

During the same period, BWG’s contribution to the county tripled – from $8 million to $25 million annually, and our share of the county’s tax burden increased from 8.4 percent to 12 percent.

I look at this money that goes out and the services that we receive from the county. It doesn’t balance. If this were a business I would look for other suppliers.

As mentioned, this situation is not unique to BWG. It is a challenge for high-growth municipalities in southern Simcoe County to ensure that the county’s investments, programs and service delivery meet the needs of the rapidly urbanizing area, which is planned to host a significant portion of the housing and job growth in County. . These South Simcoe municipalities have progressed, grown, and the county government structure must evolve with us.

On June 18, the County Council held a workshop to consider other governance approaches that would ideally ensure fairer and more efficient decision-making. The key outcome of that meeting was disappointing.

The Board referred an option to a subcommittee for further review. This option would reduce the number of members from 32 to 17, with each municipality represented by its mayor. While the potential reduction in councilors is welcome, population representation will not be achieved and south Simcoe will continue to contribute 40% of the county budget with less than 20% of the voice.

The County Council has wrestled with these discussions before, including as recently as 2022 when a governance review committee was established to self-reflect on its size and structure. Several options were discussed, but no consensus was reached on anything other than the status quo.

Simcoe County is too special to accept the status quo. We face considerable growth, infrastructure and housing affordability challenges that cannot be solved with our old approaches to governance and service delivery.

To progress, we must be progressive. I ask that this Committee be bold in its findings and recommendations. I am asking that fair representation and financial balance be established for South Simcoe either through legislative changes imposed by the provincial government or through clearly articulated directives issued to the County Council.

Alternatively, I am asking the Government to facilitate a discussion and arrangements that could lead to Bradford West Gwillimbury becoming a single-tier municipality.

These would be bold but positive changes that are expected.

As we have stated in our previous meetings, this regional review is critical. Reforming Simcoe County’s decades-old governing structure is necessary to best position this beautiful part of Ontario for success. We look forward to working with your committee and the province to define and implement that optimal structure.

**************************