The City is excited to announce a new governance structure for City Council starting this September. The new model will move from the existing Committee of the Whole to Standing Committees. This change aims to enhance the efficiency of meetings and provide greater clarity for the public on how decisions are made by City Council.

The new Standing Committee structure will have five members of City Council including the Mayor that sit on designated committees to focus on specific topics: Quality of Life, Growth, Finance and Administration. Members will provide input and receive deputations prior to information presented to the City Council. City Council retains the authority and has the final say on all Council decisions.

Feedback from a public survey issued in March 2025 was considered in the recommendations of the report that went to Council earlier this summer and later approved in By-law 217-2025 in July.

"We are pleased to have received input from Members of Council and the public that contributed to our recommendations to Council to make this change," said Krista Power, City Clerk and Director of Legislative Services. "This change will assist the public in better understanding how City Council makes decisions that affect the programs, services and operations provided by our city."

The first Council meeting in the new governance process will be on September 2.