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Regional

Muskoka District Council

Governs District Municipality of Muskoka

Official website (muskoka.on.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: muskoka.on.ca, checked
What it's for

An Ontario municipal council can provide any service or thing it considers necessary or desirable for the public, and passes by-laws on matters such as health and safety, animals, structures, business licensing and the municipality's economic, social and environmental well-being. In two-tier areas, the Act divides these powers between the upper-tier (county or region) and lower-tier councils.

Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 2, 8, 10 and 11 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)

What it can't do

A by-law has no effect to the extent it conflicts with a provincial or federal law, regulation or approval, including where it frustrates the purpose of that law.

Municipal Act, 2001, s. 14 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)

Who it answers to

Voters elect council every four years, on the fourth Monday in October. Council may appoint an Integrity Commissioner and an Ombudsman who report to it, and in municipalities the province designates, the head of council has special powers under Part VI.1 of the Act.

Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 4 and 5; Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 223.3, 223.13 and 284.2 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)

Where its money comes from

Mostly property taxes, set each year by by-law as a tax rate for each property class, plus fees and charges for services and for the use of municipal property.

Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 311, 312 and 391 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)

Shares responsibility with

Shares responsibilities with the upper-tier or lower-tier council in two-tier areas, and with the province, which sets municipal powers and duties in the Municipal Act and many other Acts.

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Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 2 and 11 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

  • District Chair ontario.ca · checked
    muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Muskoka Lakes muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Muskoka Lakes muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Peter Kelley as Mayor of Muskoka Lakes muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Lake of Bays muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Gravenhurst muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Heidi Lorenz as Mayor of Gravenhurst muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Lake of Bays muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Terry Glover as Mayor of Lake of Bays muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Huntsville muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Huntsville muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Nancy Alcock as Mayor of Huntsville muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Gravenhurst muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Georgian Bay muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Georgian Bay muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Peter Koetsier as Mayor of Georgian Bay muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • District Councillors for Bracebridge muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Bracebridge muskoka.on.ca · checked
  • Rick Maloney as Mayor of Bracebridge muskoka.on.ca · checked
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What it can do

  • Emergency management

    Must develop and implement an emergency management program (Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act s.2.1).

  • Property tax

    Sets an annual levy on the lower-tier municipalities, which collect it with their property taxes (Municipal Act, 2001 Part IX, Taxation).

  • Bylaws

    Passes by-laws in the spheres of jurisdiction assigned to the upper tier by s.11(3) and (4) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and enforces them (s.425).

  • Land use planning and development

    Prepares an upper-tier official plan and is often the approval authority for plans of subdivision and local official plans under the Planning Act.

  • Waste management

    Provides waste management services assigned to it, commonly waste disposal and diversion (Municipal Act, 2001 s.11(3), s.11(4)).

  • Roads

    Has jurisdiction over county or regional roads and bridges, including keeping them in repair (Municipal Act, 2001 s.11(3), s.44).

  • Municipal purposes

    Has the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a natural person and may provide services and pass by-laws only in the spheres, or parts of spheres, of jurisdiction the Municipal Act, 2001 assigns to upper-tier municipalities (s.9, s.11(1), s.11(4)).

Sourced · checked

Sources for what it can do

  • Emergency management ontario.ca · checked
  • Property tax ontario.ca · checked
  • Bylaws ontario.ca · checked
  • Land use planning and development ontario.ca · checked
  • Waste management ontario.ca · checked
  • Roads ontario.ca · checked
  • Municipal purposes ontario.ca · checked
Report a problem

Sources

  • muskoka.on.ca · checked District Municipality of Muskoka website, retrieved 2026-10-11; composition from the 2022 election data (mayors and district councillors of the six area municipalities) For: Muskoka District Council, District Councillors for Muskoka Lakes, Mayor of Muskoka Lakes, District Councillors for Lake of Bays, District Chair and 9 more
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25: Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 2, 8, 10 and 11. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25: Municipal Act, 2001, s. 14. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 4 and 5; Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 223.3, 223.13 and 284.2. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, Sched.: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 4 and 5; Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 223.3, 223.13 and 284.2. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25: Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 311, 312 and 391. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25: Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 2 and 11. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: toronto For: Emergency management
  • ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: upper For: Emergency management
  • ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: upper For: Property tax, Bylaws, Waste management, Roads, Municipal purposes
  • ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: upper For: Land use planning and development
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 218, 218.1-218.3 (upper-tier council composition and head of council), e-Laws consolidation 2026-06-08 For: District Chair
  • muskoka.on.ca · checked District Municipality of Muskoka website, retrieved 2026-10-11; composition from the 2022 election data (mayors and district councillors of the six area municipalities); ex officio term follows the member's current term as Mayor (same person) For: Peter Kelley as Mayor of Muskoka Lakes, Heidi Lorenz as Mayor of Gravenhurst, Terry Glover as Mayor of Lake of Bays, Nancy Alcock as Mayor of Huntsville, Peter Koetsier as Mayor of Georgian Bay, Rick Maloney as Mayor of Bracebridge

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