Why bother having a ward system, asks reader

To the Editor:
“Two candidates running for Ward 1 councillor in Kincardine”

It is good that more than one person is running for the Ward 1 councillor vacancy in Kincardine. However, I was surprised that one of the candidates does not live in Ward 1.

On checking the municipal website, I found it is not necessary for candidates to live in the ward they seek to represent – see below.

“Candidates for the office of Councillor Ward 1 must meet the same criteria as eligible voters or electors. You must be:
 

• A resident of the Municipality of Kincardine, or an owner or tenant of land in the Municipality of Kincardine, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant
• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Not prohibited from voting under Section 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, or otherwise by law.

“Please note that Section 29(4) of the Municipal Elections Act states that “if a municipality is divided into wards, a person is eligible to be nominated for an office in an election in any ward of the municipality.”

So, if you do not have to live in the ward to be elected in that ward, why do we bother having a ward system?

Dennis Flavell
Kincardine