‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,’ mayor says
Dave Jaworsky said there shouldn’t be reason to change much amid government review
For Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky, the news of a regional government review did not come as a surprise.
“I think this provincial government has said that we’re going to look at ways of making governments better,” said Jaworsky in an interview Tuesday, shortly after the provincial government announced that it will be undertaking a review of regional municipalities, including Waterloo Region.
Jaworsky said the part he is pleased with is the fact that former Waterloo regional chair Ken Seiling is one of two advisers for the review, meaning that it should be fair and balanced.
“He makes sure the best ideas come forward and everyone has a voice,” said Jaworsky. With confidence in the way the regional government operates with all seven municipalities, Jaworsky, who is in his second term as mayor of Waterloo, said there shouldn’t be reason to change much. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he said. Regional chair Karen Redman said there are still a lot of unknowns. Like most media outlets, Redman received an email about 2 p.m. from Minister of Municipal Affairs Steve Clark, saying that the Ford government is going to look at regional government with an emphasis on cutting red tape and improving service in municipalities for business. “I think it’s a great opportunity to have a discussions where we can improve services with an eye towards attracting investment and talent to Waterloo region,” Redman said. “What it shouldn’t be about is the correct number of politicians. Because other examples have proven that this is not necessarily a cost-saving measure.
“This should be — how do we better deliver services to resident and businesses in Waterloo Region. And that’s what should drive any change.”
During the last municipal election there was strong suspicions that the province, under new leadership, would look at doing something at the municipal level, especially when it came to regional governments with a local tier.
“So I’m not shocked, I’m not surprised,” Redman said, adding that ad- visers Michael Fenn and Seiling both have amazing wealth of experience — Fenn from the administrative side, Seiling from the elected side.
“So I feel we are in good hands and they’ll ask the right questions.”
Seiling provides Waterloo Region with a "home-field advantage" as someone who knows the area intimately and is well-respected by politicians of all political stripes, according to longtime regional Coun. Tom Galloway.
The Ford government said it would review governance and after reducing the size of the Toronto’s council prior to the municipal election last fall and elim- inating regional chair positions in other jurisdictions, the review didn’t come unexpected.
Galloway understands the time frame for the review is about six months, and said there’s lot of possibilities.
“I don’t think we can pre-guess what the outcomes are going to be for us or anybody else. And then of course you also have to layer on top — and this is important I think — you don’t know what the government’s agenda is either.”
But Galloway said the province is needed to the lay the law down at times, and he remains cautiously optimistic for the time being.