York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970, it consists of 21 elected representatives plus the appointed Regional Chair. The elected members are the mayors of each of its nine municipalities (Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Newmarket, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville), as well as an additional eleven Regional Councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from Markham, three from Vaughan, two from Richmond Hill and one each from Georgina and Newmarket. These members are elected via double direct election, serving as both members of regional council for their municipallity and as at-large members of their city/town council.
The Regional Chair is appointed by the provincial government.[1] Until 2022 the position was elected by the members of regional council.[1] The first Regional Chair, Garfield Wright, was appointed by the provincial government upon the creation of York Region and served for two terms (1971-1978).[2] The Regional Chair & CEO is currently Eric Jolliffe, who was appointed in December 2024 and took office on January 1, 2025.[3]
Regional Council usually meets on the third Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the York Region Administrative Centre offices in Newmarket.
- ^ a b Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, s. 218.3, as amended by S.O. 2022, c. 24, Sch. 3, s. 1 (Municipal Act, 2001 at Ontario e-Laws)
- ^ Carter, Terry (May 13, 1970). "Towns to win in regional land 'stakes". The Era. pp. 1, 17. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- ^ "Ontario to Appoint Eric Jolliffe as New Chair of York Region". Ontario Newsroom. Government of Ontario. December 2, 2024.