Ontario Invites Public Feedback on Municipal Council Accountability Rules

The Ontario government has announced the start of public consultations to gather input on accountability and transparency rules for municipal council members. The government stated these consultations will inform potential amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

According to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the review is being undertaken partly in response to allegations of workplace misconduct involving council members in Ontario municipalities. Topics under review include workplace misconduct rules, codes of conduct, and the responsibilities of municipal integrity commissioners.

An online survey to collect feedback is open to the public until July 31, 2024, as outlined by the Ministry.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra said, “We want to hear from people across the province so we can ensure local governments are serving their communities as effectively as possible.”

The Ontario government stated that public feedback from this process will be considered when deciding on possible future changes to municipal governance legislation.