Government > Regional Chair

Appointment of the Regional Chair

Regional Council appoints the Regional Chair at its first meeting after the municipal election, taking place at Regional Headquarters.

The Regional Chair is appointed by members of Council. To be eligible for this appointment, a person must be qualified to be elected as a member of Council but it is not necessary that the person actually be an elected member of Council. Any person who meets the qualification and eligibility requirements can be nominated for the position of Regional Chair provided the nomination is moved and seconded by elected members of Regional Council.

To meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements of the Municipal Act and the Municipal Elections Act, a person must:

  • reside in Niagara region or own or rent land here or be the spouse of an owner or tenant;
  • be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;
  • not be prohibited from voting in the municipal election; and
  • not be disqualified by the Municipal Act or any other Act from holding the office.

Procedure for Appointing the Regional Chair

Section 24.5 of the Region's Procedural By-law provides the process for the appointment of the Regional Chair.

  1. The Clerk, acting as Chair, shall call for nominations;

  2. Each nomination shall be in writing, regularly moved and seconded, and shall have the written consent of the nominee attached;

  3. Prior to the vote being taken, each nominee shall be permitted to speak to his or her nomination for not more than five (5) minutes;

  4. The speakers shall be called upon in the alphabetical order of their names;

  5. The voting for the election of the Chair shall be conducted by secret ballot as permitted by the Municipal Act;

  6. To be elected as Chair, a nominee shall obtain the concurring votes of a majority of the Members present;

  7. If there are more than two (2) nominees and if, upon the vote, no nominee receives the majority required for election, the name of the nominee receiving the least number of votes shall be dropped and another vote shall be conducted;

  8. If two (2) or more nominees are tied with the least number of votes, a special vote shall be taken to decide which one of such tied nominees' names shall be dropped from the list of names to be voted upon in the next vote; and

  9. Such voting shall continue until either:

    1. A nominee receives the majority required for election, at which time such nominee shall be declared elected; or

    2. It becomes apparent by reason of an equality of votes that no nominee can be elected.

Further Information about the Regional Chair


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