Procedural By-law Review

Every municipality in the province of Ontario must have a procedural by-law. The procedural by-law governs the way that Council and board/committee meetings run. The by-law includes rules for how municipal meetings are called, who is involved, where they happen, and how they proceed. This by-law also guides residents' interactions with Council, the conduct of Council, and the way the municipality communicates about meetings.

The County is updating its current procedural by-law to ensure it best supports the good governance of the municipality and aligns with provincial legislation.

County staff have worked with consultants Amberley Gavel to conduct a thorough review of the procedural by-law and propose a number of changes. Now we would like your feedback on the proposed changes.

Why should I care? 

You should be able to expect transparent, accessible and legislatively sound proceedings at Council and committee meetings. A good procedural by-law will lay the groundwork for that to happen.

The procedural by-law guides the ways that you, as a resident, can interact with Council and committees through formal meetings. It tells us how Council and the public are expected to conduct themselves through meetings. It also guides the way that County staff communicate information about municipal meetings to the public. It is an important tool that supports good governance by elected and appointed officials in the municipality.

Have your say

Below you will find the changes grouped into four themes along with comments and questions from the public that were submitted prior to the submission deadline of Friday, January 14.

County staff will consider public feedback before finalizing a new procedural by-law for Council's consideration in February 2022.