October 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

less-populated areas with fewer votes, from being disenfranchised through under-representation on Council. It
strengthens the power of every vote cast.
Phone: 647-376-7104; Email: tara@tarard.ca; www.tarard.ca
JOHN RUSH: seeking position of Councillor of East Gwillimbury
I am in favour of keeping the Councillor At Large system that we presently have.
It would be in the candidates favour to change to the ward system. The area that the
candidate would campaign in would be smaller in geographical area and population size.
This would mean the candidate’s campaign budget would also be smaller, less signs and
brochures to purchase and distribute. Less door knocking and the candidate is
accountable to less people and thus less people to deliver your message to. This of course
only pertains to the candidates for council; nothing changes for the candidates
campaigning for mayor.
The Councillor at Large system provides the resident with more accountability, the Mayor and all four
Councillors are elected by all of the eligible voters. This means that the residents have 100% of the council
accountable to each eligible voter as opposed to only 40% of council (Mayor and One Councillor) accountable
to eligible voters in the Ward System.
For example if the play ground equipment needs to be replaced in your ward, this would involve an expenditure
of tax dollars. Your ward councillor would have to play “Let’s Make A Deal” with the other councillors to achieve
the necessary support for this expenditure. In the At Large System all of council is accountable, no play ground
equipment, no votes for four councillors in the next election.
If the development progresses as planned I can visualize the Ward System being introduced, at present our town
population is too scattered for the ward system.
Phone: 905-478-4186; Email: jrush2@sympatico.ca; www.johnrush.web.officelive.com
PAUL F. TAYLOR: seeking position of Councillor of East Gwillimbury
There are those who feel there is a necessity for a Ward system in East Gwillimbury, as
opposed to the current ‘at-large’ system. I believe, with our current population,
Councillors elected at large have the obligation and responsibility to represent and speak
for every town citizen. The disadvantage of a ward system could be if Councillors did
not work as a team for the Town as a whole, but would concentrate their efforts for
the constituents only in their
ward area.
It is anticipated that East
Gwillimbury will experience great population growth in
the near future. We must then assess the impact this will
have on representation at the municipal level.
Phone: 905-836-1423; Email: ptaylor@lionsa16.com;
www.pftaylor.ca
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