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Procedural By-law Review

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Consultation has concluded

We’re reviewing our Procedural By-law. The By-law is a set structure that guides processes for Council and committee meetings to carry out the business of the City. Some of the things the bylaw outlines includes: how Council members cast their votes, how late Council meetings can run, conduct for Council, how residents delegate and interact with Council and how public meetings are communicated to residents.

We want to know how you feel about:

  • Participation in Council meetings such as delegation, presentations, written submissions and petitions and electronic participation in meetings.
  • Council being able to vote by proxy if they are absent from a meeting.
  • Any other parts of the By-law you think can be improved.

How your feedback will be used:

Results of the Community engagement will be considered along side an analysis of comparator community practices and guided by the expertise of City staff with the goals of:

  • Creating effective and efficient meetings
  • Providing clarity and ease of participation for the public

Following a review of community feedback, a new Procedural By-law will be drafted. This draft will be shared prior to presentation to Council with interested participants who sign up at the end of the survey or who contact the City Clerk's Office directly.

The final report was approved by Council on March 22, 2021 as part of the Mid-term governance review with final changes to the By-law to follow.


About proxy voting

A change to provincial legislation by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing gives municipalities the flexibility to decide whether another member of Council can vote on behalf of an absent councillor. The change was made in July 2020.


We’re reviewing our Procedural By-law. The By-law is a set structure that guides processes for Council and committee meetings to carry out the business of the City. Some of the things the bylaw outlines includes: how Council members cast their votes, how late Council meetings can run, conduct for Council, how residents delegate and interact with Council and how public meetings are communicated to residents.

We want to know how you feel about:

  • Participation in Council meetings such as delegation, presentations, written submissions and petitions and electronic participation in meetings.
  • Council being able to vote by proxy if they are absent from a meeting.
  • Any other parts of the By-law you think can be improved.

How your feedback will be used:

Results of the Community engagement will be considered along side an analysis of comparator community practices and guided by the expertise of City staff with the goals of:

  • Creating effective and efficient meetings
  • Providing clarity and ease of participation for the public

Following a review of community feedback, a new Procedural By-law will be drafted. This draft will be shared prior to presentation to Council with interested participants who sign up at the end of the survey or who contact the City Clerk's Office directly.

The final report was approved by Council on March 22, 2021 as part of the Mid-term governance review with final changes to the By-law to follow.


About proxy voting

A change to provincial legislation by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing gives municipalities the flexibility to decide whether another member of Council can vote on behalf of an absent councillor. The change was made in July 2020.