The Nation Municipality

October 4, 2021
Casselman, Ontario

In 2019, The Nation Municipality hired Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. and Dr. Robert J. Williams to conduct a comprehensive ward boundary review. At the conclusion of that review, the Consultant Team’s Report offered the Municipality two options: Option One being a four-ward system and Option Two being a six-ward system. On September 28, 2020, the members of Council selected Option One, being a four ward system.

An appeal was submitted to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly known as the Land Planning Appeal Tribunal, “LPAT”) by Phillipe Warren and David Mushing of Limoges (the “Appellants”). The Appellants and Municipality were heard before the Tribunal on August 10^th, 2021.

On September 27, 2021, the Ontario Land Tribunal found that Option One did not meet the test for Effective Representation, whereas Option Two did meet the Five Guiding Principles, thus achieving Effective Representation. To read the full decision delivered by the Tribunal, click here.

The Tribunal issued an Order to The Nation Municipality to adopt Option 2 via by-law, being the six ward system, before January 1^st, 2022 pursuant to subsections 222 (7) and (8) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

“Relying on the work done by experts, I strongly believe that the members of Council acted in good faith by selecting Option One. We will comply with the order issued by the Ontario Land Tribunal and implement Option Two, the six-ward system. The changes will take effect for the next municipal elections in 2022.” François St-Amour, Mayor

Questions:
Josée Brizard, CAO-Clerk
613-764-5444, extension 235

The Nation’s By-law No. 92-2020 establishing a new ward boundary structure has been appealed. The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), formerly the Land Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), has set the hearing date on August 10, 2021. The hearing will be virtual and it is scheduled over two days.

For more information, please see the documents below:

• Ontario Land Tribunal’s Public Notice and Appointment for Hearing
• Ontario Land Tribunal’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, under subsection 13(1) of the Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2021

Under Section 222 (3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 – November 24, 2020

On November 23^rd, 2020, Council passed By-law 92-2020, a by-law to re-divide and alter the wards in The Nation Municipality.

Section 222 (1) of the Municipal Act allows for municipalities to pass a by-law to establish or change ward boundaries. Notice of the passing of such a by-law is required to be given to the public within 15 days of the passing. This is the Notice of Passing of By-law 92-2020. Under subsection 222 (4) of the Municipal Act, the Minister or any other person or agency may appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal by filing a notice of appeal with the municipality setting out the objections to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objections. Appeals must be filed with the Municipal Clerk and must be filed within 45 days of the by-law being passed. Last day for filing an appeal: January 7^th, 2021.

To view By-law 92-2020, the maps for the ward boundaries as well as the written description of the new boundaries, please click here.

Original Ward Boundaries (BEFORE):

New Ward Boundaries By-law 99-2020:

Any appeals of By-law 92-2020 must be filed with the Municipal Clerk, to 958 Route 500 West, Ontario K0A 1M0, setting out the reasons for the appeal together with a certified cheque or money order in the amount of $1,100.00 payable to the Minister of Finance. The appeal form (“Appellant Form A1) is available online on the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal’s website and on The Nation Municipality’s website. For details visit https://olt.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/forms/appellant-applicant-forms/.

To access the Land Planning Appeal Tribunal’s Appellant Form A1, please click here.

The personal information accompanying your submission is being collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, as amended, and can form part of the public record which may be released to the public.

Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk’s Office at:

Josée Brizard, CAO-Clerk
The Nation Municipality
958 Route 500 West
Casselman Ontario K0A 1M0
613-764-5444, extension 235.

During the Council meeting on August 26^th, 2019, The Nation Municipal Council agreed to move forward with Watson & Associates Economists LTD for the review of The Nation Municipality’s ward boundaries.

Watson & Associates Economists LTD will:

• Develop a clear understanding of the present ward system in The Nation, including its origins and operations as a system of representation;
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the present system;
• Develop and conduct an appropriate consultation process to ensure community support for the review and its outcome;
• Prepare population projections for the development and evaluation of alternative electoral structures for the 2022, 2026 and 2030 municipal elections;
• Write and deliver a report that will set out alternative ward boundaries to ensure effective and equitable electoral arrangements for The Nation.

Task 1 – Project initiation, Information Gathering and Research (October-November 2019)

Task 2 – Interviews with the Mayor and Council (November 2019)

Task 3 – Compilation of Existing Housing and Population Structure and Forecast Growth Modelling (November 2019)

Task 4 – Evaluation of the Existing Ward Structure (December 2019)

Task 5 – Development of Preliminary Ward Boundary Alternatives (December 2019-January 2020)

Task 6 – Public consultation (January 2020)

Task 7 – Finalization of Alternatives (February-March 2020)

Task 8 – Preparation of Report (March-April 2020)

The Nation Municipality is undergoing a Ward Boundary Review, which will be conducted by Watson & Associates Economist Ltd. With the help of public consultations, they will review the current boundaries to determine its strengths and weaknesses, and they will develop alternative ward boundary options that will better represent our communities, using population projections, for the 2022, 2026 and 2030 municipal elections.  You are invited to be part of this consultation process. You can attend one of the two public consultations open houses to review proposed alternative ward options and share your comments with us:

Public Consultation #1

6:30 p.m. – February 4^th, 2020
St-Isidore Recreation Centre
20 Arena Street, St-Isidore

Public Consultation #2
6:30 p.m. – February 5^th, 2020
Limoges Community Centre
205 Limoges Road, Limoges

Questions? Contact Josée Brizard, CAO-Clerk at 613-764-5444, extension 235 or by email at jbrizard@nationmun.ca.

*Simultaneous translation will be available on site.

Important Information given during the Open Houses

To access the Study Overview, please click here.

To access Watson and Associates’ Presentation, please click here.

To consult the poster boards featuring the preliminary options, please click here.

To view the general information poster boards, please click here.

Survey

Before filling out the survey, please read through the material above and consult the preliminary ward boundary options.

Sorry. This form is no longer available.

Thank you for participating in the Ward Boundaries Review for The Nation. Personal information, if provided, is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act and will be used as part of the Ward Boundaries Review. Personal information collected may become part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of personal information may be directed to the Clerk. For additional information, please visit the Municipality of The Nation website at https://nationmun.ca/en/our-council-staff/ward-boundaries/ or contact the Municipal CAO-Clerk Josée Brizard by phone at 613-764-5444 ext. 235, or by email at jbrizard@nationmun.ca.

If you wish to print and fill out the form by hand, please click here and return it to Erik Karvinen at karvinen@watsonecon.ca by 4:30 p.m. February 28th, 2020.

Summary

During the Council meeting on June 15^th 2020, The Nation Municipal Council agreed to review the two new Nation Municipality’s ward boundaries options proposed by Watson & Associates Economists LTD.

On July 13^th 2020, Council received from Dr. Robert Williams and Erik Karvinen the two options proposed by Watson & Associates Economists LTD.  The proposed options are HERE.  If residents want to discuss the options with their Councillors, they will have 1 month following the public presentation to do so. Once the Councillors have heard from residents and have reviewed both options thoroughly, a decision will be taken by Council.https://nationmun.ca/en/our-council-staff/council/  

To view the July 13th presentation made by Dr Robert Williams and Erik Karvinen, click HERE.

Approve options

MODIFICATION : On Monday July 27th 2020, Council decided to postpone the date during which it will approve one of the two proposed ward boundary options, from August 10th 2020, to September 28th 2020.  This will allow citizens sufficient time to properly assess the options with their councilor.

VOTE : On September 28th 2020, The Nation Municipality Council will approve one of the two proposed ward boundary options. Please consult this document concerning health guidelines.  Thank you.

SEPTEMBER 28TH 2020 :  On September 28th 2020 was held the vote for The Nation’s two Ward Boundary Options.  Council voted in favour of Option 1.

Click here to view map of option 1.

Please follow this link to view the September 28^th meeting on The Nation’s YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gjBob37TkU

A by law will be presented to Council to formalise the new ward boundaries. The by law may be subject to an appeal with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Josée Brizard CAO-Clerk by phone at 613-764-5444 ext. 235