A resolution to consider proxy voting, whereby one councillor could provide his or her vote by proxy to a fellow councillor, was defeated at the most recent Champlain Township council meeting on October 8.
On July 21, 2020, the province enacted legislation for electronic participation for members of council on an ongoing basis (not only during emergencies) but the legislation also included an optional provision regarding proxy voting if a procedural by-law of the municipal council was in place.
At a previous meeting, council had discussed the idea of proxy voting and had asked township clerk Alison Collard to provide them with an update on proxy voting at its October meeting.
Vankleek Hill Councillor Peter Barton was a proponent of proxy voting, stating that there were instances when a councillor could not attend a meeting where a vote on an issue was happening but would want his or her vote recorded.
Barton said that proxy voting would make the meetings more accessible, and mentioned that due to work, sometimes the councillor would miss meetings, but would still want to vote.
Longueuil councillor Violaine Titley held that the matter was not urgent and that it should be discussed in the commtitee-of-the-whole meeting, adding that she would not support the resolution put forward at the meeting.
West Hawkesbury ward councillor Gerry Miner said that there are times when a councillor may intend to vote one way but then hears new information at a council meeting that could change his or her mind.
Collard told council that very few municipalities have introduced proxy voting (this was also stated in her report), but Barton argued that the township could be progressive and approve proxy voting.
