Vaughan's mayor explores split from York Region, saying 'status quo' must change

A week after the mayor of Markham called for York Region to become one city, the mayor of Vaughan is directinghis city's staff to look into separating from the region.

In a specialmeetingheld Tuesday, councillors passed amotion put forward by Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Ducadirectingcity staff to explore a new government modelthat would allow the cityandother municipalities in the region to become independent.

"I believe it's important for us to be in the driver's seat," Del Duca said at the meeting.

The province previously announced itwill be naming regional facilitators for themunicipalities of York, Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe and Waterloo, who will explore whether thosecities and towns could stand independently.

York Region consists of nine municipalities Markham, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King Township, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Vaughan and Whitchurch-Stouffville. It also has a regional government the Regional Municipality of York.

Asked about Del Duca's motion at an unrelated announcement, Premier Doug Ford said consultation with mayors will be an important part of the facilitators process.

"A lot of cities want their independence and I don't blame them," he added.

Motion notes some services should stay shared

Del Duca said this motion sends a clear signal to themunicipalities and the province that Vaughan is a "partner that can help the province and help our counterparts across York Region with perhaps a new governance structure."

The motion says Vaughan contributes the highest share of property tax revenue to York Region and that the city will grow by 66 per cent by 2051.

"The status quo governance model in York Region should be changed and modernized so as to reflect the current and future needs of our residents," the motion reads.

In an interview with CBC Toronto, Del Duca says he doesn't see the potential changes as a divorce from the region, but a modernization.

"This fundamental notion from 50 years ago that we need two levels of government is outdated and needs to be updated," he said.

He envisions a potentially larger body coordinating shared serviceslike police, paramedic services and transit,but no separate layer of government.

Some York mayors agree governance model needs to change

The mayor of the Town ofWhitchurch-Stouffvilleagrees the status quo of governance in York Region needs to be modernized, he said in an emailed statement.

"But, Vaughan is in a very different financial position than Whitchurch-Stouffville. I am personally not certain that Whitchurch-Stouffville could financially exist as a single-tier municipality,"saidIain Lovatt.

Lovatt saidhe'll welcome the provincial facilitator's input.

Tom Mrakas, mayor of the Town of Aurora, says there are multiple options for the municipalities to look at as a group when it comes to governance in the region.

"I think that the nine municipalitiesare strong and have a strong partnership," he said in an interview with CBC Toronto. "But at the same time, we do recognize that the status quo is not acceptable and and there is a better approach to this."

Meanwhile, VirginiaHackson, mayor of the Town of East Gwillimbury, said in an emailthat it'spremature to discuss the potential of independent municipalities in the region until the provincial review takes place.

Motion comes after Markham mayor asked for consolidation

Del Duca's motion comes a week after the mayor of Markham wrote a letter to the province calling on the provincialgovernment to consolidate different municipalities in York Region into one city.

"Consolidating into one city would result in significant savings in both operating and capital budgets," Frank Scarpitti said in his letter dated June 14.

The following day, Premier Doug Ford rebuffed that call and said Scarpitti is the only mayor in the region who wants that to happen.

The discussion aboutchanges to the governance structure in York Region comes afterthe province announcedPeel Region will be dissolved at the start of 2025.

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark said in May that the move will allow the region's three municipalities Mississauga, the Town of Caledon and Brampton to more efficiently build the housing the region will need in the next two decades.