Changes to Thunder Bay's council size, makeup are on hold — for now
CBC
A long-standing debate at city hall in Thunder Bay, Ont., will be put on pause after council voted to allow the clerk's office until 2023 before starting consultation on how to change the composition of council.
Council voted down a Notice of Motion - put forward by Coun. You Peng You on Monday, which would have reversed the decision council made a year ago, to have administration look into the composition of council.
You wanted to change the decision. If his motion passed, he would have then take the question to voters to see if they were in favour of an 8-member council, all at-large seats, with one mayor.
Councillors contacted by CBC News after the vote stated they wanted the public to weigh in before they made a decision.
Coun. Kristen Oliver, who brought foward the resolution passed a year ago, said she thinks there's an appetite for change.
"I believe that what I was bringing forward would fundamentally provide the best outcome, in the sense that we could have that discussion with the community on what we want their electorate to look like, what their council should look like, what ward boundaries should look like."
"I think those are really important issues that the community needs to chime in on."
Mayor Bill Mauro, who voted in favour of You's proposal, said he was in favour of examining the composition of council a year ago and he still is now.
"I supported moving ahead with the process then, which would have had a significant community consultation attached to it, and would have put council in the position of changing the composition of council, for sure, in 2022," he said. "Last night's motion that I supported was me being consistent with the position that I look fully one year ago."
Mauro said he wants to see some sort of change on council, at least examining the boundaries of the municipal wards, based on municipal growth.
"I do believe that most councillors believe some change will be seriously considered," he said. "We're all on the same page in wanting the community consultation to occur. If we made the decision to go ahead in November 2020, we would've had a year to do that, and get a vote to elect people differently in 2022."
Coun. Shelby Ch'ng, who voted against the motion Monday, said public consultation is key but so is accessibility. For example, running for council, particularly an at-large seat, can be expensive.
"I'd hate to see people excluded because of funds, and I think you need representation from all walks of life and socioeconomic background to be on council."
"I'd like a system that can set up for a bit of a succession plan. I find that when it comes to council members, I like the idea that the ward system is a little bit easier to chew off if you're a new council member. That's how I got on council. And then, you're able to almost move on to running for a mayor, or an at-large seat, or another level of the government."
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
A new study is challenging a long-standing method of dating dinosaur fossils in Alberta's Dinosaur Provincial Park — using drone technology.
It was an historic moment at the Bora Laskin Law School graduation earlier this spring. Co-valedictorian Cassandra Spade gave her speech in Anishnaabemowin.
One year ago, though he didn't know it at the time, Rev. Don Beyers led the final service ever held inside what is now one of Toronto's lost treasures.
Before deciding to post unwanted items online, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) are reminding people to make they're being as safe as possible.
The Island Nature Trust is celebrating the conservation of land that it says has deep historical, cultural and ecological significance along P.E.I.'s North Shore.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's main focus will be on project development as he sits down with provincial and territorial premiers this week.
An eight-year-old girl missing for over 20 hours on Random Island in Newfoundland and Labrador has been found safe, police have confirmed.
Mary Casement of Saint Andrews, N.B., says "Oh, that'll be in the Courier next week," was once a popular phrase in Charlotte County.
Quebec will ask the Supreme Court of Canada for permission to appeal a ruling that found a provincial law abolishing school boards violates English-language minority education rights.
Premier Scott Moe says Saskatchewan's ability to fight a plague of wildfires across the province is reaching the breaking point.
More Yellowhead County residents had to leave their homes Friday, after the county issued a new wildfire evacuation order for two communities and expanded an existing order.
First Nations leaders say hotels in Winnipeg and other major Manitoba cities are largely booked up as they continue to seek temporary housing for evacuees fleeing communities surrounded by wildfires.
Humans aren't the only creatures that stay relatively hidden when the weather is lousy.