York Region council narrowly decided to continue to allow its members to attend meetings remotely rather than force them to attend in person more often.
Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt proposed Dec. 21 an end to the current “blended” approach of the last 18 months that allows councillors to attend in person or remotely. He proposed a new system where councillors could only attend three meetings of each type remotely each year, making an exemption for health or weather. That motion was defeated in a 10 to 11 recorded vote.
Vaughan Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Linda Jackson, who was at the meeting in person, opposed and said council had bigger priorities to address. She said there are also many benefits to remote work, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“I believe we have more important issues to discuss around this table than whether we need to have mummy and daddy keeping track of our meetings,” she said.
York Region has used a hybrid approach to meetings since April 2022, during the pandemic, allowing council members to freely decide to attend in-person or remotely. Since then, there has roughly been a 55 to 45 per cent split between council members attending in person vs remotely. Lower-tier municipalities similarly use a hybrid approach, although some have more stipulations.
Lovatt said Stouffville recently passed a resolution to shift back to in-person meetings. He said they are more beneficial, and it is time to return to them.
“I believe that it’s the public’s expectation as an elected member of this chamber to sit right here in these seats and make decisions to move York Region forward,” Lovatt said. “It’s my opinion that nothing beats in-person meetings, not only for the level of productivity but also, on a collegial level, with developing and maintaining working relationships with my colleagues here.
“I also believe, as elected officials, we should be front and centre with the public and in front of those who come to delegate us in person,” Lovatt added.
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He further noted that elected government members at the provincial and federal levels have all been back in person at their respective seats for more than 18 months. He also said York Region’s new administrative centre had significant taxpayer investment and should get used.
But Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca disagreed and said what is most important to residents is that meetings are productive and that they are taking the best advice from staff.
“I think they’re a little bit less fussed about where we are physically sitting in that exact moment that we are taking that advice, deliberating, making those decisions,” Del Duca said. “
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor supported Lovatt’s resolution. He said hybrid work is here to stay but agreed that in-person meetings are more productive.
Taylor further said that having half the council chairs empty can send the wrong message, particularly for in-person deputations.
He acknowledged that he lives close to York Region’s headquarters in Newmarket but said that every council member attended in person before the pandemic, and it works well.
“When somebody says the public don’t care how we do this, they just care about the results, I think you’re wrong,” Taylor said. “We’re going to hear from the public now. You’re going to hear from the majority of the public, they’re going to say, ‘I think if I have to go to work in person, or I have to at least attend the important meeting in person, then I expected that elected representatives, that we voted for or pay for, to come to the most important meetings in person.’
The breakdown for the recorded vote was:
In favour: Markham Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Richmond Hill Mayor David West, Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Ian Lovatt, Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor, Georgina Regional Councillor Naomi Davison, King Mayor Steve Pellegrini, Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk, Vaughan Regional Councillor Mario G. Racco, York Region chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson.
Against: Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li, Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, Richmond Hill Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Godwin Chan, Markham Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Michael Chan, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Joe DiPaola, Vaughan Councillor Mario Ferri, Markham Regional Councillor Alan Ho, Vaughan Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Linda Jackson, East Gwillimbury Acting Mayor Brian Johns.
Absent: Newmarket Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Tom Vegh
