Durham Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of Durham in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1974, it consists of 29 elected representatives, including the Regional Chair. Durham Region is governed by Durham Regional Council, which consists of the mayors of the local municipalities and regional councillors directly elected in each municipality. These members are elected via double direct election. Each municipality elects the following number of regional councillors:
Pickering - 3
Ajax - 3
Whitby - 4
Oshawa - 5
Clarington - 2
Uxbridge - 1
Scugog - 1
Brock - 1
Council Structure
The council is led by a Regional Chair, who is directly elected by the public. The current Regional Chair is John Henry. In 2006, Pickering, Ajax, and Oshawa placed non-binding referendums on their local election ballots to ask voters whether the chair should be directly elected. Over 80% voted in the affirmative.
The current council was elected in October 2022. Council used to sit for a three-year term, but the Ontario Legislature passed legislation increasing the length of municipal council terms in Ontario to four years.
Current Council
Regional Committees, Boards, Subcommittees and Task Forces
Durham Region Transit Committees
Finance & Administration Committee
Health & Social Services Committee
Planning & Economic Development Committee
Works Committee
2014 Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee
911 Management Board
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Association of Local Public Health Agencies
Business Advisory Centre Durham
Canadian National Exhibition Association
Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
CTC Source Protection Committee
Development Charges Complaint Committee
Durham Advisory Committee on Homelessness
Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee
Durham Environmental Advisory Committee
Durham Region Child and Youth Advocate
Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation
Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation
Durham Regional Police Services Board
Durham Region Roundtable on Climate Change
East Duffins Headwaters Committee
Energy from Waste – Waste Management Advisory Committee
Land Division Committee
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Greater Toronto Airports Authority Consultative Committee
Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
GTA Agricultural Action Committee and Golden Horseshoe Food & Farming Alliance
Kawartha Region Conservation Authority
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Local Diversity and Immigration Partnership Council
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Association
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
TRCA Trail Guidelines Advisory Committee
Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee
Services
Services under the region's scope include:
Children Services
Community Planning
Construction
Corporate Services
Economic Strategy and Tourism
Emergency Medical Services - Durham Region EMS - downloaded from the Province of Ontario Environmental Financial Department Forestry Housing Legal Services Long Term Care and Seniors Public Health and Safety Real Estate Planning Services Regional Property Taxes Tourism Transportation Services - regional roads only Sewers Employment and Financial Support Transit - Durham Region Transit Water Waste management (garbage, recycling, hazardous waste; excludes curbside collection) Policing - Durham Regional Police
Regional Chairs
Gerri-Lynn O'Connor 2018–present
Roger Anderson 1997–2018
Jim Witty 1995–1997
Gary Herrema 1980–1995
Walter Beath 1974–1980
Durham Regional Headquarters
Durham Regional Offices are located at 605 Rossland Road East in Whitby and is also headquarters for Durham Regional Police.