Today, Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced the following Heads of Council for Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York regions, Muskoka District and Simcoe County:

• Kevin Ashe, Durham Regional Chair
• Ann Mulvale, Halton Regional Chair
• Frank Campion, Niagara Regional Chair
• Nando Iannicca, Peel Regional Chair
• Scott Davey, Waterloo Regional Chair
• Steven Del Duca, York Regional Chair
• Scott Aitchison, Muskoka District Chair
• Don McIsaac, Simcoe County Chair

“Ontario stands at an important juncture. As we navigate geopolitical challenges and create the conditions for growth, strong leadership at the regional level is more important than ever,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“These appointments reflect our confidence in local leaders who bring a deep understanding of their municipalities and a proven record of performance and public service. As Heads of Council, they will foster collaboration across municipalities, support responsible growth and ensure services are delivered efficiently, so that these communities remain great places to live, work and raise a family.”

Heads of Council are equipped with powers to streamline decision-making, improve efficiency, strengthen alignment with provincial priorities, including housing and infrastructure, and introduce upper-tier budgets.

Heads of Council bring a range of experience and expertise to their new roles, including municipal governance and administration, infrastructure delivery and finance.

Quick Facts

• Positions were posted on the Public Appointments Secretariat website on June 29, 2026, and interested candidates were able to apply until July 13, 2026.
• The Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, enables a consistent approach to Regional Chair appointments across the province, allowing the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to appoint the heads of council for eight upper-tier municipalities.
• Compensation will be determined by municipalities. In cases where appointees are also a lower-tier mayor or councillor, their total compensation will be capped at the higher of the two salaries.
• Appointees who are also lower-tier mayors will hold one seat (as Chair) on regional council. The lower-tier municipality will appoint someone else to represent it on regional council. The mayor would continue to serve as mayor on the lower-tier council and fulfill the duties of both roles.
• Heads of Council represent the collective interests of their lower-tier municipalities, advocate on behalf of the region with provincial and federal governments, lead during emergencies and provide leadership to Regional Council by chairing meetings and guiding policy discussions.
• Upper-tier and lower-tier municipalities are two levels of local government that work together, with separate sets of responsibilities. An upper-tier municipality, especially a region, is typically responsible for delivering regional services (e.g., regional roads, housing and social services) across its lower-tier municipalities. A lower-tier municipality is typically responsible for local services e.g., local roads, fire protection, garbage collection and recreation.

Additional Resources

Better Regional Governance Act, 2026

Ontario Appoints Heads of Council in Eight Upper-Tier Municipalities