Resignation Notice

I have sent notice to the Clerk of the Township of McNab/Braeside that I will be resigning as Mayor of the Township of McNab/Braeside effective February 28th, 2025. This resignation date will allow me to tie up a few things at the local and County levels, and gives some time for Council to determine next steps to fill this vacancy.

Ironically, I will be able to explain to you better what has happened, is happening and likely will happen with the governance and administration of your Township, having resigned.

What happens next?

Council will have to make a decision as to whether to appoint somebody to fill the vacancy for mayor or to call a by-election. As per the Municipal Act 2001:

            Filling vacancies

263 (1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of council, the municipality shall, subject to this section,

(a) fill the vacancy by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed; or

(b) require a by-election to be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. 2001, c. 25, s. 263 (1).

Further explanation or clarification will have to come from the Township.

Why are you resigning?

It’s complicated, and this decision has come after much deliberation and soul-searching, but much will be clearer to you over the course of the coming months. For now, I invite you to

visit markmackenzie.ca and to subscribe or to check back to this site periodically. Contact me at info@markmackenzie with any questions or comments you may have and I will answer everything as fully as I am allowed. Everything received will be treated in strict confidence.

At this time, I would like to point out to you a few things that may be of interest to you.

1) A citizen action step you can take right now:

Watson and Associates, who are consulting on asset management for the Township and whose services you are paying for, have requested a closed-door training session with Council as per the February 4th Council meeting and it was accepted by Council for Monday March 3rd. You might want to ask any Councillor or the Township why that will be in a closed session. If you get an answer, it may not make much sense, but then you will start to get the picture as to why I can be more open as a private citizen than by staying on as mayor.

2) A smoke screen regarding our deteriorating roads:

Township staff for the second year in a row, proposed a 0% budget increase. This is a smoke screen to make taxpayers think Township finances are being handled responsibly; i.e., how could one possibly think anything could be wrong with the way your money and assets are being managed if there is a 0% increase in your local property taxes? For this year, a good chunk of last year’s surplus (largely due to newly constructed homes coming on line) was proposed to be used to bring the budget to that 0% increase number. The number now sits at a 3.5% increase after the budget meetings but will not be official until a by-law is passed. You will have to view those meetings online to get a better grasp of the changes that were made from the original draft budget from staff.

The reality, however, is that Township roads are deteriorating at a rate of about 1% per year. The cost to prevent further overall decrease in the Pavement Condition Index will require an increase in taxes of up to $1.6 million per year. Taxpayers will have to pay for this sooner or later, but this very real need is being conveniently ignored and passed down the line to the next Council or generation. The longer we put off addressing this need, the more extensive the repairs will be and therefore the higher the costs will be down the road. 

4) We must all take action.

That said, I am only one citizen. While I have a significant voice, it is only one vote when on Council and there is little one can do when you are constantly out-voted on important issues. I can and will lay out the information for you, but it up to you, the collect citizenry, to make yourselves be heard. I strongly encourage you to engage respectfully with Council via email or at the public question period of a Council meeting and let them know of any concerns that you have regarding the amount of spending, the current lack of financial transparency and other examples of dysfunction. 

It has been fascinating but very painful to see from the inside how easy it is for a government to mislead the public, and for me personally to experience what they can do to a whistleblower, particularly one who has been elected on your behalf. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank many supporters who understand what I have tried to do to this point. I am resigning as Mayor but I am not quitting. You’ll see….

Sincerely,