The residents of Durham had no say on Bill 100 –and, in future, will have no say in electing their choice of regional chair and chief executive officer (CEO).
On May 7, the provincial government passed Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, which changes how the regional chair is selected—from being elected by residents to being appointed by the province, said a region statement.
Durham Chair and CEO, John Henry, said he is “deeply disappointed” by the provincial government passing Bill 100.
“Strong and resilient communities are built on trust, accountability and the belief that the people who live there should have a voice in the decisions that shape their future,” he pointed out.
Henry’s job is at stake. It has not yet been announced if he will be reappointed or a Doug Ford nominee will govern Durham.
“By removing the public’s ability to elect the regional chair and replacing it with an appointment made by the province, a critical link between residents and regional leadership is broken,” said Henry.
“Democracy is strongest when leadership is earned through public trust, not granted by appointment. The people of Durham deserve the right to choose who represents them at the regional table—regardless of who that individual may be,” he added.
“Elections matter. Local voices matter. And the future of our region should continue to be shaped by the people who call it home,” Henry pointed out.
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