Governance

County governance review could form question on 2026 ballot

Governance reviews in Prince Edward County have a complicated and thorny history. Amalgamation was thrust upon the County in the late 1990s. The electoral arrangement was forged out of fear that the province would impose an arrangement upon this community. This animated the horse-trading required to cobble the County’s townships and villages together. The result was an odd assortment of electoral districts— most wards with one councillor, some with two and one with three representatives— along with a wide disparity in representation by population. It left many hard feelings and disappointment. But it was done.

Twenty-seven years later, the County is still working under the same peculiar arrangement. The cost of government has risen more than five times. The ranks of Shire Hall have swelled many times since amalgamation.

An earlier review had resulted in a question on the ballot in the 2010 election. More than 80 per cent of respondents voted for a review. But Council was having none of it. It chose, instead, to ignore the will of residents. It hung its choice on the technicality that fewer than half of eligible voters had answered the question. (Of course, low voter turnout had not disqualified the same members from claiming their council seats).

In 2022, One of this term of council’s first decisions was to embark on a review of governance. Newly elected members had heard during campaigning in 2022 a generalized unhappiness with the way local government worked, how it responded to residents’ needs and, indeed, who was being served by the tens of millions of dollars sent to Picton each year. With Council’s approval, the wheels for a review were set in motion. But when the file came back to start the work, some members had cold feet. The vote was cast, and only six members were in favour of such a review. It was dead in the water.

Fast forward to last week’s council meeting, where the subject was back on the agenda for discussion, except this time, in the form of a question on the 2026 ballot.

A resolution by Councillor Chris Braney was put forward which requested a report providing the legislative framework and process for adding a question on the ballot for the 2026 municipal election and that the report provide, for Council’s consideration, suggested questions pertaining to a governance review that are clear, concise, and neutral, with the capability of being answered by either a yes or no.

“This ballot questions supports an overwhelming interest across the County,” said Braney. “County residents expressed their views and instilled their faith that we, as a new council, would undertake a governance review of our current structure with a fresh approach and perspective.”

Braney noted that he had been involved in a number of governance reviews in his career.

“A ballot question is a tool to ensure that we allow County residents to decide if it is their desire to undertake a thoughtful and progressive governance review while building the confidence of those municipal residents who clearly asked that this review be undertaken early in our term.”

According to Braney, a governance review can encompass all the pieces of governance framework, and it seeks to analyze and interpret current performance versus best practice to identify possible improvements. He noted the exercise wasn’t about looking at failings, but more about finding ways to maximize performance.

“Reviewing our governance model is a proactive and healthy exercise that can provide many benefits to council performance,” he added.

Although Councillor Janice Maynard had voted against the governance review earlier in the term, she wondered if Council could get to work right away on a governance review.

“I appreciate this coming forward. I do think finding a way to maximize our performance is important. Is it the intent to do a full governance review, so that we can make some headway in the last two years of our term?” she asked.

Then, the Ameliasburgh councillor hinted at the elephant in the room.

“What I would like is to not presuppose that by doing that governance review, that the structure and the ward size of the municipality be necessarily considered at this point. We could still conduct the review and see how we can improve our efficiency and then make the decision after that is done about whether we will put a question on the ballot.”

Braney believed the motion was clear. “I am going to leave it up to the clerk and wait until it comes back to the table,” he said.

Mayor Steve Ferguson supported the motion. “We are a significant corporation and should be doing this on a periodic basis. The last time was after amalgamation. I think it is time to have a review, and I look forward to seeing the report,” he said.

The resolution passed. A report is expected back in the first quarter of 2025.