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How Government Works. Cities, Regions and School Boards. You Are Here. Neighbourhood. Neighbourhood. City. City. Region. Region. Ontario. Ontario. Canada. Canada. Levels of Government. Levels of Government - Federal. Queen. JUDICIAL. FEDERAL. Cabinet. House. Senate.
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How Government Works Cities, Regions and School Boards
You Are Here Neighbourhood Neighbourhood City City Region Region Ontario Ontario Canada Canada
Levels of Government - Federal Queen JUDICIAL FEDERAL Cabinet House Senate Committees Prime Minister P.M. Office Committees Governor General Legislature Executive Supreme Federal Ministries
Levels of Government JUDICIAL PROVINCIAL FEDERAL Municipal Federal Provincial Supreme Queen Executive Legislature Legislature Executive G.G. L.G. Senate House P.M.O P.M. Comm. L.A.O Comm. Premier P.O Cabinet Comm. Cabinet Ministries Ministries
Provincial Government PROVINCIAL • Legislative Assembly • Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) • Committees Executive Legislature L.G. L.A.O Comm. Premier P.O Cabinet Ministries
Provincial Government PROVINCIAL • Executive • Premier • Premier’s Office • Cabinet • Ministries Executive Legislature L.A.O Comm. Premier P.O Cabinet L.G. Ministries
Local Governments Provincial Ministries Municipal Affairs School Boards Education Municipalities
Municipal Councils REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS • The powers of municipal governments are determined by the provincial government. • 3 Types of Municipal Councils • Regional • Counties • Single Tier SINGLE TIER GOVERNMENT
Role of Municipal Council • It is the role of Council, • to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality • to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality • to determine which services the municipality provides • to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council • to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality • to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality and • to carry out the duties assigned to it by law.
Who’s on Council? PEEL REGIONAL COUNCIL Regional Chair Mayors of Caledon, Brampton, Mississauga 11 City of Mississauga Council members 6 City of Brampton Council members 4 Town of Caledon Council members YORKREGIONAL COUNCIL Regional Chair and CEO Mayors of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Whitchurch-Stouffville 1 Georgina Regional Council member 4 Markham Regional Council members 1 Newmarket Regional Council member 2 Richmond Hill Regional Council members 3 Vaughan Regional Council members Municipal Councils are made up of a Head of Council plus Councillors or Aldermen.
Who’s on Council? The Head of Council may be called a Warden, Chair, Reeve or Mayor. It is the role of the Head of Council, To act as the municipality’s chief executive officer To preside over council meetings (though in Toronto, a “speaker” is named) To provide the council with leadership and information and recommendations to the council To represent the municipality at official functions Head of Council
Who’s on Council? Councillors have a representative, policy-making and stewardship role in each municipality. Councillors Representative Role Councillors are elected by constituents to represent their views when dealing with issues at Council. Policy-Making Role Councillors are expected to provide direction for municipal policies, including administration and guidance for future decisions.
Agencies, Boards & Committees • Committees can include but aren’t limited to: • Budget committee • Economic development committee • Community and social services committee • Property standards committee • Audit committee • Public works and infrastructure committee • Public Health committee • Agencies, boards and commissions can include but aren’t limited to: • Police services board • Public library board • Transit commissions (i.e. TTC) • Boards of health
Reading Municipal Reports • Introduction This section provides an overview of the issue and the purpose of the report. • Recommendations Reports tend to put recommendations up front. • Background This should explain the reasons for the recommendations and why the matter is an issue of importance. • History of the issue This section will include references to previous reports or decisions. • Structure In reports the most recent information – usually the recommended conclusion is up front but the background discussion that makes it all make sense follows, in reverse chronological order.
Role of Staff Staff have a lot more power in local governments and play a bigger role in decision making. Develop proposals and recommendations Support for Mayor and Councillors Staff outlast elected politicians
School Boards Education is a provincial government responsibility led by the Minister and Ministry of Education. Ontario's school boards operate the province's publicly-funded schools and administer the funding they receive for their schools.
Who’s part of a School Board? • School Trustees • School Board Trustees are locally elected representatives of the public and they are the community’s advocate for public education • A Trustee’s job is to: • participate in making decisions that benefit the whole board while representing the interests of his or her constituents, and also to • communicate the views and decisions of the school board back to the constituents • identify the needs and priorities of their community and turn them into practical educational opportunities for students.
Who’s part of a School Board? • Student Trustees • Student Trustees are elected by students and represent the interests of the student body at meetings of the Board • Fully participate in meetings and have access to Board resources and opportunities • Not members of the Board and are not entitled to vote • Can have their voices reflected in meeting minutes
Who’s part of a School Board? Directors are responsible for: Advising the Board on operational matters Implementing Board policies Managing all areas of Board operations Developing, implementing, monitoring, finding resources for and reporting to the Board on a multi-year plan; Bringing to the Board’s attention any Board violations of the Education Act or any of its policies, guidelines or regulations. Directors of Education The Director of Education is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Education Officer of the Board. All School Board staff report either directly or indirectly to the Director of Education.
Who’s part of a School Board? Superintendents (supervisory officers) Superintendents are accountable to the Director of Education for the implementation, operation, and supervision of educational programs in their schools. Superintendents are responsible for: Leading and supervising schools and programs Ensuring that performance appraisals are conducted. • Working with principals and staff to ensure that schools operate according to Ministry and Board policy • Holding schools accountable for student achievement
Who’s part of a School Board? School Councils School Councils advise principals on issues affecting the education programs and operation of individual schools. School Councils may advise on: Leading and supervising schools and programs Codes of student behaviour Curriculum priorities Programs/strategies to improve school performance on provincial and School Boards tests Communications with parents Community use of schools School Councils membership include: • Parents/guardians of students • the principal • A teacher • A student representative • A non-teaching school staff • Members from the community at large
Board Committees • Types of Board committees: • Standing or permanent committees generally deal with ongoing or recurring matters, such as those specified in the legislation, and are an integral part of the Board structure. • Ad hoc committees, like task forces or work groups, investigate a specific issue and report to the Board within a stated time frame. • Advisory committees, established on either a short- or long-term basis, provide input into policy development or other areas where the Board would benefit from the experience and expertise of other participants.
Municipal Budgets • Municipalities go through a process every year that determines the following year’s budget – what each department, division and Council will spend • Unlike other levels of government, municipalities MUST balance their budgets every year • Each municipality has a different budget process • In some municipalities, initial budget discussions begin in the late fall with public consultations beginning early in the new year • In other municipalities, the budget process starts much earlier, in the spring
Municipal Budgets • Operating Budgets • Like your food budget • The operating budget pays for things that you use up and don’t have afterward. If you spend more than you have, you run into deficit and eventually go broke. • Capital Budgets • Like a mortgage or car payments • These are debts but they are balanced by things you own that are worth something. You can spend more than you have but need to make payments regularly, and you need enough income to cover the payments.
Municipal Budget Consultations • Municipalities use a variety of methods to engage residents in the budget process. • Activities municipalities may use include: • Budget committee deputations, email and mail correspondence • City/Town-wide public meetings • Regional public meetings • Online surveys • Councillor-led public meetings • Public open house
Elections Elections affect how politicians think about their jobs Politicians have to get elected every 4 years What they need to win colours what they feel they need to do while in office
Elections They know which votes they need, which communities are “swing votes” They will work to appeal to those swing votes Issues that affect those groups get a lot of attention – so link your issue to their issue
