Ford government names eight hand-picked regional chairs, ousting Muskoka's elected chair

Premier Doug Ford's government has named eight hand-picked heads of Ontario's upper-tier regional councils, replacing Muskoka chair Jeff Lehman with Conservative MP Scott Aitchison. Lehman, who was elected chair by regional council in 2022, said he was "deeply disappointed" and that communities should choose their own heads of council. Aitchison plans to leave Parliament later this month and be sworn in Dec. 1. The province recently gave itself power to appoint chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka and Waterloo. The chairs will get strong-chair powers, including vetoing some bylaws and proposing budgets. Critics have questioned Steven Del Duca's appointment in York.