The council is composed of a regional chair, the 12 mayors of the constituent municipalities, and 18 regional councillors, all elected to 4-year terms. The next election was held in October 2018, and the council's composition is reviewed and updated accordingly.
The regional chair of the Niagara Regional Council is not directly elected by the residents, but rather chosen by the council members themselves. While any eligible voter in the region can be considered for the position, the regional policy typically selects the chair from among the 30 council members elected in the previous municipal elections. Once chosen, the regional chair must relinquish their seat as a municipal councillor, triggering a process for the municipality to fill the vacancy.[2]
Controversy
On January 25, 18 delegates were slated to speak to request that the council be lit in the colours of the Palestinian flag in solidarity with community members who had loved ones killed in Gaza. The delegations were prevented when a motion brought forth by Laura Ip and Mat Siscoe to prevent them from speaking was passed. In response, members watching began to chant "Ceasefire Now!" which resulted in council calling a recess and escorting members out.[3]
On July 25, Niagara Regional Council passed a motion banning the display of signage within the council chambers following a months long spectacle with pro-Palestinian supporters in which the council refused to light the chambers in the colours of the Palestinian flag as was done for Israel. In response, Christine Van Geyn, litigation director for the Canadian Constitution Foundation described the measure as unconstitutional and highly vulnerable to litigation.[4]
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