Councillor fearful of provincial-led changes to Regional Chair process
Posted Jan 27, 2026 04:18:26 PM.
Last Updated Jan 28, 2026 05:36:46 AM.
Before the rumours become a reality, a Region of Waterloo councillor is taking a proactive step to prevent what he feels would be provincial overreach.
Regional Councillor for Cambridge, Doug Craig, is concerned about rumours that the province is planning to change the way the Regional Chair is selected. Specifically, he’s worried the province will make the chair an appointed position rather than an elected one.
Craig was a guest on The Mike Farwell Show to discuss a motion he plans to table at the next Regional Council meeting.
He was asked about the motivation behind the motion.
“The motivation is to make it accountable. I want an elected chair who is accountable to the people of the Region of Waterloo not an appointed chair who is accountable to Queen’s Park. That’s the major difference.”
The province has made this move before. Craig mentioned it happened in York Region in 2022 and in Niagara Region just last year.
Craig’s motion will ask council to advocate for the province not change the process and keep the decision in the hands of the voters. The motion will also ask that the province consult with the region and the municipalities before making any governmental structural changes.
Craig said he believes council is doing its best but recognizes there are certainly areas in which it can improve.
“I think it’s working fairly well. I’m not averse to a full review that talks to all the politicians, that has numerous public meetings, that examines all aspects of regional government by experts coming in, then coming up with conclusions and recommendations.”
Craig was quick to offer an alternative if the government is hellbent on making a change.
“I think what we need to do, and I’ve always advocated, let’s go back to what they called the ‘Double Direct’. Where, in Cambridge, as an example, you’re elected across the city, but you sit on city council, and you also sit on regional council. I think that system brings a greater connection, a greater understanding between the two levels of government.”
Craig is hoping his motion will catch the attention of some of the local representatives of the upper levels of government.
“I think if anything, I want our local MPP’s to know that we need to elect the regional chair and we need to elect a regional chair that i’s accountable to the people, not queen’s park.”
Politics
