Understanding Municipalities in Ontario

 
Slide Deck: Municipalities
 
 
How do municipalities influence
communities?
 
Municipalities in Ontario
 
Ontario is separated into 444 different communities
called municipalities.
A municipality can be called a 
city
, 
town
, 
village
,
township
, 
county
 
or 
region
.
Each municipality is responsible delivering local services
and managing the growth and well-being of their
community.
 
Powers and Responsibilities
 
Municipalities are given their powers and responsibilities
by the provincial government.
 
Examples include public transit, social services, garbage
and recycling, parks and playgrounds, water and sewage,
building permits and zoning, streets and sidewalks,
libraries and emergency services (police, fire).
 
Key Features of Municipalities
 
Municipalities share several main features:
 
1)
A defined geographic area
 
2)  The power to tax
 
3)  An elected council
 
Property Taxes
 
Property taxes 
are the main source of
 revenue 
(income)
for municipalities.
If you own property, you will pay a certain percentage of
its value in taxes every year – a portion goes to the
municipality to help pay for local services and a portion
goes toward the education system.
 
Types of Municipalities
 
Municipalities in Ontario are either part of a single-tier or
two-tier system.
A
 
single-tier
 
municipality has one government and local
council and it operates on its own.
A
 
two-tier
 
system involve two layers of government and
two councils.
A
 
lower-tier municipality 
has a local municipal council and
government (similar to a single-tier municipality).
An
 
upper-tier municipality
 
has a regional council and
government, and provides services for two or more lower-tier
municipalities.
 
Single-tier Municipalities
 
There are 173 single-tier municipalities in Ontario. Some
examples include:
 
Lower-tier and Upper-tier
 
There are 241 lower-tier municipalities and 30 upper-tier
municipalities. For example, the Region of Peel is an upper-
tier municipality for three lower-tier municipalities.
 
 
 
 
 
Is our municipality a lower-tier or single-
tier municipality?
 
Are we part of an upper-tier municipality?
 
Local Councils
 
Each local council (single-tier or upper-tier) is made
up of a 
head of council
, known as the 
mayor
 
or
reeve
, and other council members, known as
councillors
 
or
 
aldermen
.
Mayors and reeves are elected by all voters in the
municipality. This is called a 
at-large
 
system.
Councillors and aldermen can be elected either at-
large or by a 
ward system 
of voting (where the
municipality is broken down into smaller sections).
 
Upper-Tier Councils
 
In the case of upper-tier municipalities, there are two types of
councils: county councils and regional councils.
 
A 
county council 
is composed of designated elected members from
the lower-tier municipalities. The county council selects the head of
council, called a 
warden
, from among its members.
 
Members of a 
regional council 
are selected in different ways. They
can be directly elected by voters, elected to sit on both councils, or
appointed from within local councils. Mayors automatically become
members of the regional council. The head of a regional council is
called a 
regional chair
. The chair is chosen by a vote of the
members of regional council or they can be directly elected.
 
The Role of Council
 
Council members govern their municipality through the
following activities:
Listening to the concerns and ideas of their constituents
(people living in their community)
Attending meetings
Reviewing reports from municipal officials
Creating, debating and voting on 
by-laws
 
(rules) they believe
will improve their municipality.
 
Final Thoughts
 
 
What do you like most about your
municipality and why?
 
What would you change or improve about
your municipality and why?
Slide Note
Embed
Share

Municipalities in Ontario play a crucial role in delivering local services and managing community growth. They are granted powers and responsibilities by the provincial government, including areas like public transit, social services, and emergency services. Property taxes serve as a primary revenue source for municipalities, supporting the funding of essential services. Ontario municipalities are categorized into single-tier and two-tier systems, each with distinct structures. Understanding the types and functions of municipalities is key to comprehending their influence on communities.


Uploaded on Jul 30, 2024 | 0 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Slide Deck: Municipalities

  2. How do municipalities influence communities?

  3. Municipalities in Ontario Ontario is separated into 444 different communities called municipalities. A municipality can be called a city, town, village, township, county or region. Each municipality is responsible delivering local services and managing the growth and well-being of their community.

  4. Powers and Responsibilities Municipalities are given their powers and responsibilities by the provincial government. Examples include public transit, social services, garbage and recycling, parks and playgrounds, water and sewage, building permits and zoning, streets and sidewalks, libraries and emergency services (police, fire).

  5. Key Features of Municipalities Municipalities share several main features: 1) A defined geographic area 2) The power to tax 3) An elected council

  6. Property Taxes Property taxes are the main source of revenue (income) for municipalities. If you own property, you will pay a certain percentage of its value in taxes every year a portion goes to the municipality to help pay for local services and a portion goes toward the education system.

  7. Types of Municipalities Municipalities in Ontario are either part of a single-tier or two-tier system. A single-tier municipality has one government and local council and it operates on its own. A two-tier system involve two layers of government and two councils. A lower-tier municipality has a local municipal council and government (similar to a single-tier municipality). An upper-tier municipality has a regional council and government, and provides services for two or more lower-tier municipalities.

  8. Single-tier Municipalities There are 173 single-tier municipalities in Ontario. Some examples include:

  9. Lower-tier and Upper-tier There are 241 lower-tier municipalities and 30 upper-tier municipalities. For example, the Region of Peel is an upper- tier municipality for three lower-tier municipalities.

  10. Is our municipality a lower-tier or single- tier municipality? Are we part of an upper-tier municipality?

  11. Local Councils Each local council (single-tier or upper-tier) is made up of a head of council, known as the mayor or reeve, and other council members, known as councillors or aldermen. Mayors and reeves are elected by all voters in the municipality. This is called a at-large system. Councillors and aldermen can be elected either at- large or by a ward system of voting (where the municipality is broken down into smaller sections).

  12. Upper-Tier Councils In the case of upper-tier municipalities, there are two types of councils: county councils and regional councils. A county council is composed of designated elected members from the lower-tier municipalities. The county council selects the head of council, called a warden, from among its members. Members of a regional council are selected in different ways. They can be directly elected by voters, elected to sit on both councils, or appointed from within local councils. Mayors automatically become members of the regional council. The head of a regional council is called a regional chair. The chair is chosen by a vote of the members of regional council or they can be directly elected.

  13. The Role of Council Council members govern their municipality through the following activities: Listening to the concerns and ideas of their constituents (people living in their community) Attending meetings Reviewing reports from municipal officials Creating, debating and voting on by-laws (rules) they believe will improve their municipality.

  14. Final Thoughts What do you like most about your municipality and why? What would you change or improve about your municipality and why?

Related


More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#