Elections give citizens the leverage to evaluate the performance of current politicians, keeping them accountable by voting them out or re-electing them based on their track record.
There is a persistent misconception among certain elected officials that reviewing the Municipal Act is exclusively the responsibility of staff, leading some councillors to state that they rely solely on administrative expertise. To clarify this boundary, it is vital to highlight the distinct statutory roles outlined in the Act for both Council and administration. Many residents and politicians do not fully grasp the legal weight of a mayor or councillor’s position. Under provincial law, the legislative authority and ultimate success or failure of a municipality rest entirely with its elected council members. While administrative staff often provide long-term continuity over many years, councillors are given a strict 4-year mandate. It is crucial that elected representatives completely understand their legal roles and the long-term implications of the decisions they execute during their term. As stated in Sec. 5 (1)of the Municipal Act, “the powers of a municipality is exercised by its council” … that means, it is the elected council members (not the staff) who are the Directors responsible for the operation of the municipality. This is further expressed under Sec 224 (d.1) “to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of themunicipality” … this is a very important section of the Municipal Act that many municipal councils don’t realize. It goes on to further state under Section 5(3) that the “powers of the municipality are exercised by bylaw” which means, for basically every decision the Council make, they must create a “bylaw” for it – a new regulation that governs the operation of the municipality. Under Sec. 227 of the Municipal Act, it states the role of the Administration Staff is to “implement council’s decisions and establish administrative practices and procedures to carry out council decisions” …… this means the staff take direction from the Council – not the other way around.
Why is this information important for property owners and taxpayers to understand? Choosing the right person to sit on a municipal council is critical because local politicians hold direct, legally binding control over your personal finances, your property value, and the daily safety of your neighborhood. Ratepayers are property owners and taxpayers who fund local government. Their primary role is providing the financial foundation for municipal services through property taxes charges and fees, while acting as active participants in local democracy by voting, attending council meetings, and advocating for community needs. While federal and provincial governments handle broad societal laws, municipal councils make the granular decisions that instantly impact YOUR quality of life. Municipal councils’ role is defined in Sec. 224(a) of the Municipal Act: “to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality”
Although municipal actions must legally be formalized through by-laws, evidence from local ratepayers suggests that critical decisions on capital projects are sometimes executed without council knowledge or authorization. Across Ontario, administrative oversight and weak governance frequently result in severely over-budget infrastructure projects. This systematic failure has deeply eroded public trust and directly depressed voter turnout. Furthermore, this systemic crisis of faith likely explains why numerous municipalities are facing an unprecedented shortage of council candidates so close to the final nomination deadline.
Government transparency is critical as we approach the October 26, 2026, municipal election. The newly elected council will immediately face deep-seated systemic issues that demand accountability. To restore public trust, sitting councils must convene an open public forum to transparently lay out the municipality’s current financial status and long-term infrastructure affordability for the upcoming four-year term. Because ratepayers fully fund municipal services through property taxes and user fees, they have an absolute right to this financial oversight. Clear financial forecasting gives taxpayers a transparent look at what to expect, while giving incoming candidates a realistic understanding of the fiscal responsibilities they will inherit. This ensures both voters and future leaders are equipped to protect the financial integrity of our municipal corporation.
When new councillors are elected, they don’t just step into a job—they step into a mountain of homework. They are expected to learn the Municipal Act and memorize all the current by-laws left behind by previous councils, all during a short 4-year term. It’s definitely not a piece of cake. The CAO and senior staff are expected to know the Municipal Act and other Acts inside out since they are the ones drafting the by-laws for council to approve. But at the end of the day, Council holds the ultimate responsibility. They have to carefully read how these rules or bylaws are worded and make sure they actually have the legal right to pass them before enforcing them on residents. Every single change to our municipal operations—whether it’s an increase in taxes, new user fees, or big building projects—needs a new by-law. That by-law must be brought forward at a council meeting open to the public before a vote can happen. Because every decision council makes must be locked in with a by-law, the wording is everything. If it’s written carelessly, it may be used against the municipality in court later on. New councillors and existing ones should also refer to the Municipal Councillors’ Guide – a document put out by the province – that will lend assistance in determining the limitations, etc. municipal councils have when approving bylaws … specifically Sec. 7 Councillors as Lawmakers. https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-municipal-councillors-guide
What can the public do to bring change?
Every municipality has a PROCEDURAL POLICY at the start of every new term of Council. A Procedural Policy (legally enacted as a Procedural By-law in Ontario) is a legally mandated rulebook that dictates how a municipal council operates, conducts its meetings, and interacts with the public. While every municipality must permanently maintain an active Procedural By-law under Section 238 of the Municipal Act, a new council is not legally required to pass a brand-new one at the start of every term. Instead, the existing by-law automatically carries over from the previous council, though most councils choose to review or amend it early in their term to fit their specific operational preferences.
If you would like to see more transparency and accountability from your municipal council, NOW is the publics’ chance for change! With the municipal election this October, we have the ultimate leverage to hold candidates accountable before they take office.
We can demand structural updates to our local Procedural By-law to build public trust, such as:
- Moving council meetings past 6:00 p.m. so working residents can actually attend.
- Adding a dedicated open forum to regular agendas so citizens can speak on upcoming votes.
- Mandating 3 to 4 unscripted town hall meetings per year for direct community Q&A.
Should we not use our voices to ensure the next council is more transparent and accessible?
How do we do it? Now that the official list of candidates is locked in, residents have two powerful ways to push for updates to the municipal procedural bylaw. First, you can ask candidates to sign a formal declaration confirming their support for your proposed changes. By tracking their responses and sharing a “support tracker” on social media, the community can easily see where each candidate stands. Second, you can publicly ask candidates about these specific bylaw changes during campaign events or online forums. This puts them on the spot and forces them to take a clear, public stance before election day.
The role of the property owner and taxpayer
Public complaints lose their power when residents fail to show up to council meetings or turn out at the ballot box. In the 2022 municipal election, provincial voter turnout plummeted to just 32.9%. This staggering 68% voter apathy rate does more than leave polling stations empty—it hands elected officials a blank cheque to make sweeping decisions without a clear public mandate. Yet, changing municipal governance is highly accessible to the average taxpayer. Because our local systems are deeply interconnected, a successful push for governance reform at the local level can trigger a powerful domino effect. When highly mobilized taxpayers force local councils to yield to community demands, those frontline councillors are forced to act as aggressive lobbyists, pushing the provincial government to alter its laws and priorities.
Democracy was originally created to serve the people and protect their rights. It is time we return to that core purpose.