Outgoing Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac has been appointed the new chair of Simcoe County Council by Premier Doug Ford's government.
McIsaac is one of eight regional and municipal heads of council appointed by the province.
The appointments include Conservative MP Scott Aitchison, who announced he will resign his Parry Sound-Muskoka seat at the end of the fall sitting of Parliament. He will become chair of the District of Muskoka on Dec. 1.
The province recently gave itself the power to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka and Waterloo, while extending an existing power to appoint chairs in Niagara, Peel and York.
Those chairs will also receive so-called strong mayor powers, giving them the authority to appoint or fire chief administrative officers and department heads, direct municipal staff, veto certain bylaws and propose municipal budgets.
Some appointees will hold two positions at once. Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe will also chair Durham Region, while Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca will take on the York regional chair role.
Other appointments include former Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale as Halton regional chair, outgoing Welland Mayor Frank Campion as Niagara regional chair, and Kitchener city councillor Scott Davey as Waterloo regional chair.
Current Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca will remain in the position.
