Bracebridge Councillor Archie Buie concerned about Bill 100 impact to Strong Mayors Act

Buie says a provincially appointed Chair "could change it all”

Bracebridge Councillor, Archie Buie, expressed concern about the Bill 100 impact to Strong Mayors Act, in the May 5, 2026, General Committee meeting.

The discussion stems from broader concerns tied to the Province's Better Regional Governance Act (Bill 100), which could allow the provincial government to appoint regional chairs rather than have them selected locally. In Muskoka's case, District Council is pushing to retain its current model, where the Chair is appointed locally, citing the region's unique rural structure, geography and service delivery challenges.

Councillor, Tatiana Sutherland, expressed, “Muskoka is distinct and unique,” using recent flooding and the contrast in population density compared to other provincial municipalities as an example.

A resolution from Muskoka District Council outlines those concerns, noting the region's low population density, vast geography, and environmental constraints, including its designation as a UNESCO biosphere. The District argues these factors require locally responsive leadership, particularly given the complexity of coordinating services across both urban centres and rural, unserviced areas.

The resolution also highlights Muskoka's recent track record, including increased housing development, infrastructure investments, and relatively low tax increases, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining governance structures that reflect local realities.

District Council is formally requesting that the province exempt Muskoka from the appointment provisions and allow it to continue selecting its own Chair, while also committing to ongoing work to improve development timelines and governance efficiency.

Buie's concern centres on how a provincially appointed District Chair could intersect with the Strong Mayor powers granted to local heads of council in Ontario. Those powers, introduced by the province, give mayors enhanced authority over budgets and certain municipal decisions. The concern raised is whether overlapping or shifting lines of accountability — particularly if leadership roles are influenced by the province — could complicate local decision-making.

He said, “This Bill 100 really upsets me…. If this is not successful and if we do end up within an appointed Chair that has Strong Mayor Power… [a] Chair appointed by the province could change it all.”

He indicated the importance of the traditional “majority rules” process. “This can all be destroyed…that affects everybody in Muskoka. This is very upsetting to me,” said Buie.

He also expressed concern that the current motion “doesn’t address the whole issue.” He explained, “I think the public needs to know where we stand on the whole issue.”

He continued that the District could also end up with the same fate with potential governance reductions forced on Councils that are occurring in other communities, such as Simcoe that have larger area and higher population than Muskoka. “If we don’t do something about our District Council and get together as municipalities, down the road it might be forced upon us.”

Further discussion from Council members is expected to explore the potential local impacts of these proposed changes.