As deadline looms for Ontario municipal elections candidates, some seats uncontested

As the deadline approaches for Ontario's municipal elections, officials are observing not only the potential candidates, but also the lack thereof. While more could still happen before nominations close on Friday, the presence of seats with either one or no registered candidates is noteworthy, remarked Zachary Spicer, an associate professor at York University.

"This is a trend we've seen in recent election cycles," he said, usually popping up in rural communities. Initially, concerns arose after a few municipalities saw their entire councils elected by acclaim during the 2018 vote. In addition, some seats in rural areas had no candidates at all. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) echoed these worries last month, urging citizens to run for office and stressing the impact of local government on daily life.

"Municipal councils make decisions that affect housing, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, economic development and so much more," AMO President Robin Jones stated. "When fewer people run for office, communities have fewer choices and fewer perspectives around the council table." Factors such as the demands of municipal office and low pay could be discouraging potential candidates, said Spicer.

In larger cities, salaries for council positions are improving, but in smaller communities, councillors may only receive a stipend or honorarium as low as a few hundred dollars per month. "These are councils where...they're predominantly older white guys because to do these jobs you either need to be independently wealthy, be retired or own a business," Spicer explained.

Few individuals can manage to attend daily meetings, he noted. "These are not positions where meetings are scheduled at times that are convenient for people with families." Making the job more flexible could help draw a more diverse group of candidates, Spicer suggested. In the 2022 elections, 6,325 candidates competed for 2,842 positions, with over 550 roles uncontested and filled through acclamation.

Since then, significant political changes have occurred, primarily due to provincial decisions. In the spring, the Ontario government passed legislation allowing it to appoint chairs in eight regions and counties, including some where those roles were previously elected. This move, coupled with "strong chair powers" granted to over 200 mayors and council heads, has been criticized as anti-democratic by opposition parties.

The Oct. 26 election takes place during an ongoing supervision period for several school boards in Ontario, including those in Toronto, Ottawa-Carleton, Dufferin-Peel, Thames Valley, Near North, Peel, and York. Education Minister Paul Calandra, who took control of the boards due to financial mismanagement, has not provided a timeline for their supervision to end.