Ontario town moving to ward system for electing regional councillors [Video]

Whitby’s four regional councillors will be elected by ward instead of at-large, starting with next year’s municipal election.

Whitby Council voted Monday to make the change by a narrow 5-4 margin, with Mayor Elizabeth Roy casting the deciding vote. The change will see one regional councillor elected from each of the town’s existing four wards.

The decision follows an April 2025 direction from council for staff to investigate the pros and cons of both approaches. The resulting report emphasized that the choice isn’t about identifying a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ system but rather selecting the option that best fits Whitby’s unique context, with Roy cautioning the councillors just before the recorded vote that their choice should be about what is best for the residents, not what’s best for their election chances.

The report also looked at how municipalities across the GTA elect their regional councillors, considerations around representation, campaign dynamics including …