Northern community reacts after mayor and council booted by the province
Black River-Matheson no longer has a sitting town council, after it failed to meet for more than 60 days due to lack of attendance.
The province disbanded council yesterday and the town will now have to hold a new election.
Town hall has had an empty council chamber since January — and now it will stay that way until residents elect a new mayor and six new councillors.
A coalition of three now-former councillors forced the move by boycotting meetings, saying it was either this or living with a “broken” council.
“We couldn’t get results, we couldn’t get proper guidance from our staff,” said former councillor Dave Dyment.
“Mismatched information out of our reports and untimely reports. We just felt that we weren’t running the town and that the town was actually running us.”
This comes after high tensions in the community over a 34 per cent tax increase, the ongoing municipal worker strike and three councillors resigning in the last year.
Black River-Matheson no longer has a sitting town council, after it failed to meet for more than 60 days due to lack of attendance. (Photo from video)
Former Mayor Doug Bender was not available for comment, but the vacant council chamber comes with mixed reactions.
“I do not believe that they ran for (office) to end up here, I really don’t,” said Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof.
“And so we have to look deeper to see why, why they ended up here.”
Vanthof said while he’s seen unrest within councils before, he hasn’t seen Matheson’s level of public bitterness.
Byelection will be held
Now without a mayor, Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, will appoint someone to take over council duties for the time being.
“An appointee will be in place until the byelection is complete and a new council is in place,” Calandra wrote in a letter.
“The appointee will exercise the duties and obligations of council in an accountable and transparent manner.”
No word on when the byelection will take place, but Dyment is hoping more people will run than last time, when everyone but himself ran unopposed.
“That way, we’re getting a broader spectrum of people to choose from,” he said.
“Difference of views from different councillors, so we’re not falling into the exact same position.”
Dyment said the new council’s priorities will have to start with transparency, positivity and solving the town’s immediate issues.
And he said he would like to be part of that council -- as the community’s next mayor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Tick season is underway in Ontario. Here's how to protect yourself
Tick season is well underway and there is a new species of ticks causing new diseases, which is why you need to take steps to protect yourself.
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
Five things to know about the NHL playoffs
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are both one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup final.
Is intermittent fasting better than counting calories? Maybe not, but you might stick with it
As weight-loss plans go, it's easy to see the allure of intermittent fasting: Eat what you want, but only during certain windows of time — often just eight hours a day.
Daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt files court petition to remove father's last name
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
Two celestial shows will be visible across Canada this week
Canada is getting not one – but two – celestial shows over the next few days. Keep an eye on the sky for the northern lights and parade of planets!
Israel maintains a shadowy hospital in the desert for Gaza detainees. Critics allege mistreatment
Patients lying shackled and blindfolded on more than a dozen beds inside a white tent in the desert. Surgeries performed without adequate painkillers. Doctors who remain anonymous.