Note: This paper was presented at the International Municipal Lawyers Association in San Francisco on Sept. 30, 2013.
No Canadian municipality has a limit on the number of consecutive terms an individual may serve on its council. Furthermore, no Canadian municipality currently has the jurisdiction to establish such a limit.
I believe the time has come to raise and debate the advantages and drawbacks of municipal council term limits.
The history respecting the lengthening of municipal council terms in Ontario will be considered, followed by an overview of existing municipal term limits in the United States. Recent [failed] attempts in Canada to raise the issue of municipal council term limits will be presented. This paper will conclude with a modest recommendation for a term limit proposal with a suggestion as to the manner in which this issue might be broadly considered.
Click to read the paper Term Limits for Municipal Council Members, which focuses primarily on Ontario legislation.
About the Author
Leo F. Longo is a partner with Aird & Berlis LLP in Toronto, a CBA Partner Firm.