4 year Council terms on the horizon???

Council received a notice from John Gerretsen, Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing, regarding extending the length of the term of office for municipal councillors and school trustees. The election cycle began January 1, 2006. If passed, the legislation would make the change effective for the 2006 municipal elections, and successful candidates in November’s coming elections would begin their four-year terms on December 1, 2006.

So what do you think? Do we want them to have longer terms or should they be held accountable every 3 years? Will this tinkering by the Province make any difference or just be more of the same old, same old? I'm curious to hear thoughts on this by residents.

UPDATE: May 11, 2006

Bill 81 has been passed by the Province of Ontario. Mayors, councillors and school trustees, who currently serve for three years, have had their terms extended to 4 years, beginning with the elections this November. Our Mayor, John Mutton, has been calling for this extension since Clarington passed a resolution asking for the increase in late 2004, so he's happy. But there are a lot of people who are not. Bill 81 was fought bitterly by opponents, including former Toronto mayor John Sewell, who called it anti-democratic. It has been called a "politically corrupt" change that would not benefit citizens, generated by elected politicians who are promoting their own self-interest and not the public interest.

A group of political activists and politicians had been trying to stop the bill, saying holding fewer elections is less democratic and serves only the interests of politicians who want to delay having to face voters.
The change was included in a much larger housekeeping budget bill, leading some opponents to accuse the provincial government of trying to ram it through without any public consultation.
Opponents of the four-year term had wanted a plebiscite question on November's municipal ballot so residents could decide themselves whether their representatives should hold jobs an extra year. Are we surprised? No, not at all. These are the people who vote themselves raises without asking the residents what they think. They add or increase their own perks without consulting the public. Why would we expect that to change? We deserve better.