Notice: Intention to pass a Bylaw - Submittion of Question on the Ballot

TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Town of Wasaga Beach is intending to pass a by-law for the purpose of submitting the following one (1) question to the electors of the Town of Wasaga Beach at the 2026 Municipal Election:

“Are you in favour of moving to a ward system?”

The only permitted answers to the question are “yes” or “no”.

The Staff Report regarding the Question on the Ballot was brought forward to the December 11th, 2025, Council meeting. A copy of the report can be found on the Town’s engagement page engagewasaga.ca.  

Pursuant to section 8.1(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, 10 days notice shall be given to the public of the intention to pass the by-law and at least one public meeting to consider the matter. A public education session was held on January 26th, 2026. The meeting material, including presentation deck and hand out, has been posted on the Town’s engagement page engagewasaga.ca.

A statutory public meeting regarding placing the question on the ballot will be held virtually on February 12th, 2026 at 10:00am followed by Council’s consideration of the by-law. To watch the meeting live, visit: Council Live Stream

To present or speak at this public meeting, you must register in advance by noon on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026. To present or speak, please contact the Deputy Clerk by email at deputyclerk@wasagabeach.com or call 705.429.3844 ext. 2224 and provide the following information:

• First and Last Name
• Phone number or email address
• Municipal Address

Town staff will contact you with further information on how to participate in the meeting once you have registered.

If you are unable to attend this public meeting and you wish to provide written comments in advance, please provide them no later than noon on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 by contacting the Deputy Clerk at the information above.

Alternatively, you may provide your feedback through the Town’s engagement platform for the 2026 Ballot Question at: engagewasaga.ca

Pursuant to subsection 8.2(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the results of a question authorized by the proposed by-law are binding on the Town if:

1. at least 50% of the eligible electors in the Town vote on the question; and
2. more than 50% of the votes on the question are in favour of those results.

Pursuant to subsection 8.3(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the results of a question authorized by the proposed by-law are binding on the Town:

1. if an affirmative answer received the majority of the votes, the Town shall do everything in its power to implement the results of the question in a timely manner; and
2. if a negative answer received the majority of the votes, the Town shall not do anything within its jurisdiction to implement the matter which was the subject of the question for a period of four years following voting day.

If the binding result is in the affirmative, the Town would be divided into a number of wards for voting purposes in the 2030 Municipal Election. The anticipated cost of implementing the results of the question, would be approximately $80,000, as a Consultant would be recommended by Staff to facilitate the Ward review.

If the binding result is in the negative, Council would not be able to give further consideration to the Ward system until after the 2030 Municipal Election.

Appeal Process
Pursuant to subsection 8.1 (6) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and any other person or entity may appeal to the Chief Elector Officer of the Province of Ontario on the grounds that a question is not:

1. clear, concise and neutral; or
2. capable of being answered in the affirmative or the negative, as the only permitted answers to the question are “yes” or “no”

If you intend to appeal the question, a Notice of Appeal must be filed with the Clerk. The last day for filing a Notice of Appeal will be twenty (20) days after the publication of the Notice of the passage of the By-law. A Notice of Appeal must set out the objections and the reasons in support of the objections.

Dated: January 27, 2026

Nicole Rubli
General Manager, Legislative & Development Services/Clerk
30 Lewis Street
Wasaga Beach ON L9Z 1A1
election@wasagabeach.com
(705) 429-3844 ext. 2223