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York Regional Council

Governs Regional Municipality of York

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

Source: york.ca, checked (+1 more)
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 10Show fewer

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

  • Regional Chair york.ca · checked
    ontario.ca · checked
  • Eric Jolliffe as Regional Chair york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville york.ca · checked
  • Iain Lovatt as Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville york.ca · checked
  • Regional Councillors for Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Gino Rosati as Regional Councillors for Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Linda D. Jackson as Regional Councillors for Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Mario Ferri as Regional Councillors for Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Mario G. Racco as Regional Councillors for Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Steven Del Duca as Mayor of Vaughan york.ca · checked
  • Regional Councillors for Richmond Hill york.ca · checked
  • Godwin Chan as Regional Councillors for Richmond Hill york.ca · checked
  • Joe DiPaola as Regional Councillors for Richmond Hill york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Richmond Hill york.ca · checked
  • David West as Mayor of Richmond Hill york.ca · checked
  • Regional Councillors for Newmarket york.ca · checked
  • Tom Vegh as Regional Councillors for Newmarket york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Newmarket york.ca · checked
  • John Taylor as Mayor of Newmarket york.ca · checked
  • Regional Councillors for Markham york.ca · checked
  • Alan Ho as Regional Councillors for Markham york.ca · checked
  • Jim Jones as Regional Councillors for Markham york.ca · checked
  • Joe Li as Regional Councillors for Markham york.ca · checked
  • Michael Chan as Regional Councillors for Markham york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Markham york.ca · checked
  • Frank Scarpitti as Mayor of Markham york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of King york.ca · checked
  • Steve Pellegrini as Mayor of King york.ca · checked
  • Regional Councillors for Georgina york.ca · checked
  • Naomi Davison as Regional Councillors for Georgina york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Georgina york.ca · checked
  • Margaret Quirk as Mayor of Georgina york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of East Gwillimbury york.ca · checked
  • Virginia Hackson as Mayor of East Gwillimbury york.ca · checked
  • Mayor of Aurora york.ca · checked
  • Tom Mrakas as Mayor of Aurora york.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

  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Office of the Chairman and CEO: Chairman Eric Jolliffe appointed to serve for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 term, retrieved 2026-10-11 For: York Regional Council, Regional Chair
  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Council page: Council Members for the Term 2022-2026 (22 members), retrieved 2026-10-11 For: York Regional Council, Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Regional Councillors for Vaughan, Mayor of Vaughan, Regional Councillors for Richmond Hill and 10 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
  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Office of the Chairman and CEO: Eric Jolliffe appointed to serve for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 term, retrieved 2026-10-11 For: Eric Jolliffe as Regional Chair
  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Council page: Council Members for the Term 2022-2026 (22 members), retrieved 2026-10-11; ex officio term follows the member's current term as Mayor (same person) For: Iain Lovatt as Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Steven Del Duca as Mayor of Vaughan, David West as Mayor of Richmond Hill, John Taylor as Mayor of Newmarket, Frank Scarpitti as Mayor of Markham and 4 more
  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Council page: Council Members for the Term 2022-2026 (22 members), retrieved 2026-10-11; ex officio term follows the member's current term as Regional Councillor (same person) For: Gino Rosati as Regional Councillors for Vaughan, Linda D. Jackson as Regional Councillors for Vaughan, Mario Ferri as Regional Councillors for Vaughan, Mario G. Racco as Regional Councillors for Vaughan, Godwin Chan as Regional Councillors for Richmond Hill and 6 more
  • york.ca · checked Regional Municipality of York, Council page: Council Members for the Term 2022-2026 (22 members), retrieved 2026-10-11; ex officio term follows the member's current term as Deputy Mayor (same person) For: Tom Vegh as Regional Councillors for Newmarket

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