There will be plenty of new faces around Ontario’s council tables when the next municipal term gets underway.
An analysis by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario found that 39% of elected council members are newcomers, while nearly half of incumbent mayors and other heads of council who sought re-election were defeated.
Of the 210 incumbent heads of council who ran again, 97 lost their seats, representing a 46% defeat rate. That’s up from 37% in the 2022 municipal election.
Overall, two-thirds of incumbent councillors who ran for re-election held onto their seats.
Voter turnout also saw a modest increase, rising to 36% from 33% in 2022. However, participation varied across the province, with municipalities under 10,000 residents reporting an average turnout of 42%.
The analysis also found women continue to be underrepresented in municipal leadership, accounting for 31% of council members and 25% of heads of council.
The figures are based on unofficial results from 394 of Ontario’s 414 municipalities as of October 29. Results may change as outstanding municipalities report and elections are formally certified.
To help prepare those newcomers for their roles, AMO is offering its Local Leadership Foundations program, which focuses on building the skills and knowledge needed to serve their communities.
(written by Kasey Egan)
