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Election candidates will be able to run in any ward

Provincial legislative changes overrule city's ability to institute residency requirements for ward candidates, potentially opening door for councillors to represent areas without living or owning property there.
City Hall

THUNDER BAY – Eligible candidates in this year’s municipal election will be able to run in any ward, regardless of whether or not they actually live or own property in that part of the city.

For more than 40 years candidates or their spouse had to reside, own or lease property in that ward in order to run in one of the city’s seven wards – Current River, McIntyre, McKellar, Neebing, Northwood, Red River and Westfort.

But, as Thunder Bay city council learned Monday night, provincial revisions to the Municipal Elections Act have removed the city’s authority to institute those residency requirements, opening the door for any eligible candidate who resides, owns or leases property anywhere in the city to run wherever they choose.

“Just that we understand this fully – I’m using the two extremes of our community – a person living in Westfort, now they can actually be a candidate in Current River,” Coun. Rebecca Johnson said.

“Most people in Thunder Bay feel the person should reside in the ward they are running in because they’re comfortable with that and they understand that’s the area.”

The residency requirements were first enacted in 1975 through an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board with the restrictions subsequently upheld in 1984.

Deputy city clerk Krista Power said Thunder Bay was the only municipality in Ontario to have the residency requirements for ward councillors. The provincial legislative change specifically overruled the previous Ontario Municipal Board rulings.

“That was certainly done intentionally for the city of Thunder Bay,” Power said. “Our understanding from the province is that they were trying to be equitable, that again we were the only municipality who maintained this rule. No other municipality did.”

Coun. Andrew Foulds, one of the seven ward councillors, insisted the change represents a loss of autonomy for the city.

“The feedback I’ve been getting, generally the citizens are fairly happy with what we have right now in terms of that residency piece,” Foulds said.

“I’m not judging whether that’s right or wrong. My biggest concern is there is this legislative hammer taken out against the city of Thunder Bay and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. It does seem like we’ve been targeted.”

Candidates can officially file their nominations for the Oct. 22 vote beginning on May 1.



About the Author: Matt Vis

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