Osgoode Gets Too Much Democracy: CRERAR

Published 06/15/2025 · Updated 06/15/2025

Come Monday, June 16th, residents of Osgoode ward will have had the opportunity to participate in a triad of elections in 2025, one for each level of government.

We began with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s snap provincial election on Feb. 27, then moved on to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s snap federal election on April 28, and will finish up the trio this coming Monday after a byelection has been held to fill the seat vacated at city hall by George Darouze who was elected to the provincial legislature.

His two replacement councilors, David Brown and Catherine Kitts, have been missing in action since his departure to Queen’s Park, although a water testing kit mysteriously appeared in a small loot bag on my front doorstep one day after they became Osgoode ward’s temporary representatives. A few weeks ago I heard a couple of men bemoaning the fact that if a councilor runs for office they should be committed to staying on for their full term or leave municipal politics altogether.

On Monday evening, we should know who to contact when we need to escalate a problem within our municipality. I have spoken to a number of residents within the many villages in Osgoode ward recently, all of whom agreed they’ll be happy to be rid of the hideous election signs that have plagued our area since the beginning of 2025. Once again we’ll be able to see the beautiful countryside during our trips into the city and on the way to family outings before our ward becomes yet another victim of urban sprawl and vertical growth.

Howard Crerar is a project manager and has worked in the software industry for three decades.