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Regional

Waterloo Regional Council

Governs Regional Municipality of Waterloo

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

Source: regionofwaterloo.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.

Show all 8Show fewer

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

Next vote

  • in 14 days General election · Regional Councillor for Waterloo · 7 candidates
  • in 14 days General election · Regional Councillor for Cambridge
  • in 14 days General election · Regional Councillor for Kitchener · 12 candidates

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

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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

  • regionofwaterloo.ca · checked Region of Waterloo, Council page (Regional Chair, eight directly elected Regional Councillors, and the mayors of the seven local municipalities), retrieved 2026-10-11 For: Waterloo Regional Council, Regional Councillor for Waterloo, Regional Councillor for Kitchener, Regional Councillor for Cambridge, Regional Chair and 7 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: Regional Chair
  • regionofwaterloo.ca · checked Region of Waterloo, Council page (Council Members list) and Region of Waterloo council profiles as read by Open North Represent (Regional Chair Karen Redman), retrieved 2026-10-11 For: Chantal Huinink as Regional Councillor for Waterloo, Jim Erb as Regional Councillor for Waterloo, Colleen James as Regional Councillor for Kitchener, Joe Gowing as Regional Councillor for Kitchener, Matt Rodrigues as Regional Councillor for Kitchener and 4 more
  • regionofwaterloo.ca · checked Region of Waterloo, Council page (Regional Chair, eight directly elected Regional Councillors, and the mayors of the seven local municipalities), retrieved 2026-10-11; ex officio term follows the member's current term as Mayor (same person) For: Sandy Shantz as Mayor of Woolwich, Natasha Salonen as Mayor of Wilmot, Joe Nowak as Mayor of Wellesley, Dorothy McCabe as Mayor of Waterloo, Susan Foxton as Mayor of North Dumfries and 2 more
  • waterloo.ca · checked City of Waterloo, Find election candidates: Region of Waterloo - Regional councillor candidates on the City of Waterloo ballot, retrieved 2026-10-11 For: General election, October 26, 2026
  • ontario.ca · checked Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 4, 5, 6 and 31 (e-Laws consolidation current 2026-05-11): regular election 2026, voting day fourth Monday in October = 2026-10-26, nomination day third Friday in August = 2026-08-21 For: General election, October 26, 2026
  • kitchener.ca · checked City of Kitchener news release 'City of Kitchener certifies candidates for the 2026 municipal election': Regional Councillor candidates (certified by the Region of Waterloo) on the Kitchener ballot, retrieved 2026-10-11 For: General election, October 26, 2026

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