I believe that an elected official’s job should be exclusively the job they were elected to do. When the people of a city call, that call should be answered. Within reason, it should always take priority.
To have to share that duty with another employer or outside obligation is a conflict of interest with the very people a councillor represents.
Adequate compensation for elected positions is not about entitlement — it’s about accountability. It ensures that those who serve are not forced to divide their attention or compromise their integrity to make ends meet.
Taxpayers deserve leaders who can dedicate their full time, focus, and professional capacity to representing the community.
When I served as a city councillor, I was fortunate. I was still young, I didn’t yet have children, and my career allowed me the flexibility to treat a part-time job as a full-time one. But that is not the norm, and in reflection, it came at a great cost — both personally and professionally.
The moment I found out my wife was pregnant, everything changed. I had to choose between being a father who could provide a quality life for my daughter or running for re-election in a role that, as meaningful as it was, did not allow me to do both. I knew the hours.
I knew the calls that came at midnight. I knew what it meant to drop everything when a crisis hit. And I knew that while the title said “part-time,” the responsibility was anything but.
Now, as a father of two young daughters, I look back — and it still hurts. I loved serving my community. I loved being a voice for the people I represented.
But I also knew that to continue meant sacrificing time with my family and the ability to provide for them in the way they deserved. I owed my daughters and my family more than I owed my city, and that truth still weighs heavily on me.
Here’s the thing: it’s common sense that everyone has to work to provide for their family. But those who are elected to serve our city shouldn’t also have to work another job to provide for theirs. When public service comes at the cost of personal survival, something in the system is broken.
So, if the priority is to elect fresh perspectives, qualified professionals, and to promote good mental health and wellness, then the same expectations for our elected leaders should mirror what is found in private-sector leadership roles — roles where loyalties are not divided and compensation reflects the importance of the position.
Right now, two part-time representatives share responsibility for one ward when one full-time representative, I would argue, could do the job just as well — if not better. The two salaries combined, while still not competitive with the private sector, would at least create a livable wage.
Because if we offer part-time pay, why should we expect more than part-time work? And who wants part-time work from an elected official?
Some will disagree. They might argue that taxpayers already pay enough and that adding salaries would inflate costs.
They could say efficiency comes from smarter spending, not more pay. I’ve heard, “If you can’t balance family and public service, maybe don’t run.” And I get it — no one likes to hear the words “pay raise” and “politician” in the same sentence.
But this isn’t about paying politicians more. It’s about paying attention to the cost of not paying enough. It’s about attracting qualified, committed leaders who can focus entirely on the job they were elected to do, rather than juggling multiple careers just to make ends meet.
Municipal policy experts have been saying this for years. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has repeatedly recommended fair pay and smaller councils for growing mid-sized cities.
Some Ontario cities have already moved toward full-time councillors and seen tangible improvements in efficiency, engagement, and transparency. These are not radical ideas — they are proven solutions.
Ask anyone who has ever served in local government, and they will tell you the same thing: the calls never stop coming, the workload never ends, and the emotional weight of representing thousands of people is immense.
Many of those still serving part-time will read this and quietly nod. They’ll know the endless calls, the constituent emergencies, the long hours, and the frustration of trying to balance it all. I hope they will think, “He said what we can’t.”
A healthy council should include a mix of perspectives — young and old, working and retired, those raising families and those who have already raised theirs. But the current system tilts the scales. It unintentionally excludes the very people who could bring fresh perspectives and modern experience to the table.
We need local electoral reform. We need full-time councillors, full-time representation, and full-time leadership. Compensation reviews are not enough. The work of governing a growing city cannot be sustained on goodwill and after-hours dedication alone.
We need to attract qualified candidates. We need to compete with the private sector to bring in skilled, competent, and passionate people who can dedicate themselves fully to public service. For too long, our city has had ten part-time elected representatives — on paper.
But we all know it’s not a part-time job. It never has been. And it shouldn’t be treated like one.
That’s my two cents.
*Joshua Wall is a Brantford-based real estate agent and community advocate who served as Ward 5 City Councillor from 2018 to 2022.
