Some Ontario Municipal Election Seats Face Uncontested Races as Nomination Deadline Nears

Ontario’s upcoming municipal elections are drawing attention not only because of the candidates seeking public office, but also because a number of council seats could remain uncontested as the nomination deadline approaches.

With nominations scheduled to close Friday afternoon, several municipalities have reported positions with only one registered candidate or no candidates at all. Political observers say the situation highlights a growing concern about participation in local democracy, particularly in smaller and rural communities.

Zachary Spicer, an associate professor of public policy at York University and a former senior policy adviser to the Ontario government, said the pattern has become increasingly noticeable over the past several municipal election cycles.

According to Spicer, rural municipalities are particularly affected because local political positions can demand considerable time while offering relatively limited compensation. In some smaller communities, councillors receive only modest stipends or honorariums, making it difficult for people with full time employment or family responsibilities to participate.

The issue has raised concerns about whether municipal governments are attracting a sufficiently broad range of candidates. Municipal councils make decisions affecting housing, roads, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, economic development and other services that directly influence residents’ daily lives.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has also encouraged residents to consider running for municipal office, warning that fewer candidates can mean fewer choices for voters and less diversity of experience around council tables.

The 2022 municipal elections provide an indication of the scale of the challenge. About 6,325 candidates competed for 2,842 positions across Ontario, while more than 550 positions were uncontested and filled through acclamation.

The reasons behind uncontested races are complex. Beyond compensation, municipal office can require attendance at meetings during traditional working hours, creating difficulties for younger residents, parents, employees and others who cannot easily leave their jobs during the day.

Spicer argued that making municipal government more flexible could encourage a wider variety of people to participate. Evening meetings, greater use of digital participation and more competitive compensation could potentially reduce some of the barriers preventing residents from seeking office.

The concern is particularly significant because local government is often the level of government that has the most immediate impact on residents. Decisions about zoning, development, transportation, property taxes, community facilities, policing and local infrastructure are frequently made at the municipal level.

When seats are uncontested, voters lose the opportunity to compare competing candidates and ideas. In cases where no candidate registers, municipalities must also deal with additional procedures to fill the vacant position after the election.

Ontario’s municipal political landscape has also changed since the previous election. Provincial legislation passed earlier this year introduced significant changes involving regional and county governments. The legislation allows the province to appoint chairs in eight regions and counties where some of those positions had previously been elected.

The legislation also gives those chairs enhanced authority, similar to the strong mayor powers that have been granted to numerous mayors and heads of council across Ontario.

The provincial changes have attracted criticism from opposition politicians and others who argue that transferring certain powers away from elected representatives could weaken local democratic accountability.

The upcoming municipal vote is also taking place against the backdrop of changes to Ontario’s publicly funded education system. Several school boards remain under provincial supervision following concerns raised by the government about financial management.

The affected boards include the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Near North District School Board, Peel District School Board and York Catholic District School Board.

The province has not established a definite timeline for ending the supervision of those boards. The situation has influenced the political choices of some current school trustees, with some considering municipal council campaigns instead of seeking another term in positions where their authority has been reduced.

The municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, giving candidates and voters several weeks to prepare once nominations close.

The final number of contested and uncontested positions will become clearer after the nomination deadline and any withdrawals are processed. Some races that currently appear uncontested could still change before election day if candidates enter the race before the deadline or if existing candidates withdraw.

For communities where only one person is seeking a position, the absence of a competitive campaign could reduce public discussion about local priorities. At the same time, uncontested races do not necessarily mean residents are disengaged from their communities. They can also reflect the difficulty of finding people who are willing and financially able to take on the responsibilities of public office.

Municipal leaders and advocates therefore face a broader question about how to make local politics more accessible.

For many potential candidates, the attraction of serving their community may be strong, but the practical demands of attending meetings, responding to residents and balancing political responsibilities with employment and family life can be significant.

As Ontario prepares for the Oct. 26 municipal elections, the number of uncontested seats could become an important measure of public participation in local politics. While voters will ultimately decide the contested races, the number of people willing to put their names forward will determine how much choice residents have at the ballot box.

The debate also raises a larger issue for Ontario’s democratic system. Municipal government depends on residents being willing to serve, compete and offer different ideas about how their communities should develop. Ensuring that local office is accessible to people from different generations, occupations and backgrounds could be essential to strengthening participation in future elections.

Courtesy: cp24