OUR SUCCESSES

YOUR CITY. YOUR VOTE.

Your City Your Vote Poster

Your City. Your Vote.

We all know the importance of civic engagement and we make our voices heard in provincial and federal elections, but what about municipal elections?

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what our locally elected city officials do and yet there are important decisions made that impact our lives everyday!

Our Communities. Our Vote.

Municipal elections can be the most challenging level of government elections to talk with members about. Why? Well, it seems that while people can typically see how policies and legislation of the provincial and federal governments affect their lives, many people aren’t aware of what their city or town councils actually do.

Beyond that, there are many positions we are voting for: depending on where you live, you might be voting for councillors, mayor, regional districts, boards of education, park boards, and community commissions. That’s a lot to learn!

This municipal election, let’s make the most of this opportunity to speak with members. Some basic discussions can be an eye-opening experience for members and could spark their desire to get informed and to vote!

Understanding Local Government

Why do we have local governments?

Whether you live in a rural area, in a small village or town, or in a large urban centre, local government is tasked to take care of community needs.

  • Specifically, local government (municipalities and regional districts) shapes communities by offering essential services, regulates local policies, regulates land-use/development, and plans for the future economic growth of the community.

Why should I care?

Services. Local government provides and maintains essential services that you use every day:

  • clean water

  • public transit

  • affordable housing/zoning

  • garbage collection

  • composting/recycling programs

  • sewer systems

  • roads and sidewalks

  • streetlights

  • fire and police protection

  • libraries

  • parks and recreational programs

  • snow removal

  • facilities (skating rinks, gymnasiums and swimming pools)

What else does the municipal government do besides services?

Local governments provide regulation in several different areas:

  •  land management: use and development, zoning, housing density • business licensing

  • building permits and inspection

  • commercial vehicle licensing

  • dog licensing

How does the municipal government pay for all of these things?

You pay for it! Sources of municipal revenue come from you—the community member—in the form of taxes, user fees, and other levels of government:

  • property taxes (around 50%)

  • grants/transfers from other levels of government (10%)

  • user charges for facilities and services (30%)

  • developer contributions (9%)

  • partnerships

How can i find out what my local government is working on?

You can read the municipal annual report! Municipalities are required to prepare an annual report, providing information on finances, taxes, services and operations, and objectives and measures met during the year and those set for the next year.