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The term for current council ends November 30. The new election date is October 25 when councillors will be elected. What is the effective date for new councillors?

What prompts the question, and my confusion, is an article in the Wellington Advertiser that says

"According to the Municipal Act, a council becomes a lame duck, which means it is re­stricted in its ability to act, when a new council “will include less than three-quarters of the members of the outgoing council.”

That means a council can become a lame duck during the period between election day and the end of the term (in this case from Oct. 25 to Nov. 30), but also between nomination day (Sept. 10) and election day if the slate of candidates does not include 75% of the outgoing council."

http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/ind ... itmno=6772

Milton will almost certainly have less than 75% of current council re-elected, maybe less than 75% registered, so this could be an issue. Can anyone clarify?

Hi Garlis

Thanks for the post and the concern. Traditionally most councils do not undertake any major initiatives at the end of their term for those reasons and the 2011 budget will be debated and approved by the new council which should have at least 4 new councillors or over 40% of council.

I have publicly asked staff before on the status of the federal/provincial infrastructure fund projects and they have assured everyone that there is no impediment to the projects as they have already been approved and currently on schedule.

As council only have four meetings left after Monday's council meeting there is no major approvals requested according to the upcoming reports schedule at www.milton.ca. Understand staff are planning some orientation meetings for new councillors and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario runs seminars for new councillors early in the term that all councillors can attend and learn more about municipal government. Also the magazine Municipal World has monthly articles and books about municipal government which I have informed new candidates about.

Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Vice-Chair Milton Administration & Planning Committee
Candidate for Local & regional councillor
Wards 2,3,4,5. North of Derry road.

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Thanks Colin.

This was a new one to me. Good to know that it won't create problems.

Even though councillors will likely become lame ducks for November, no worries. It is only a temporary condition.

Busting the whole theroy about councils not approving anything major towards their end of their term- won't this council have to rule on whether to designate St. Paul's a historic site?

And as the building occupies a fairly major part of our downtown core- I'd classify that as major.

I don't think current council ever had any intention of resolving difficult issues in 2010 including St. Paul's, the old library, staff salary freeze, 2011 budget direction, Milton Heights development, or funding of hospital expansion.

The lame duck rule shouldn't make much difference but the new council will certainly have lots to do. As Zeeshan said, many candidates are already involved and that is a very good thing.