Regional
Haliburton County Council
Governs County of Haliburton
Official website (haliburtoncounty.ca) Report a problem with this page
Source: haliburtoncounty.ca, checkedAt a glance
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.
- Algonquin Highlands Township Council
- Dysart et al Municipal Council
- Highlands East Municipal Council
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Minden Hills Township Council
Municipal Act, 2001, ss. 2 and 11 · Applies to every Ontario municipal council (Toronto has its own text)
Who sits on it
-
Warden
Chosen by the council from among its members
- DB Dave Burton Warden
-
Deputy Mayor of Highlands East
Appointed by the Highlands East Municipal Council
- CR Cecil Ryall Deputy Mayor of Highlands East
-
Deputy Mayor of Algonquin Highlands
Appointed by the Algonquin Highlands Township Council
-
Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills
Held automatically by the Deputy Mayor
- LS Lisa Schell Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills
-
Mayor of Minden Hills
Held automatically by the Mayor
- BC Bob Carter Mayor of Minden Hills
-
Mayor of Highlands East
Held automatically by the Mayor
- DB Dave Burton Mayor of Highlands East
-
Mayor of Algonquin Highlands
Held automatically by the Mayor
- LD Liz Danielsen Mayor of Algonquin Highlands · since November 2022
-
Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al
Held automatically by the Deputy Mayor
- PC Pat Casey Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al
-
Mayor of Dysart et al
Held automatically by the Mayor
- WM Walt McKechnie Mayor of Dysart et al · since July 2026
iSourced · checked : show the source for each fact
Sources for who sits on it
- Warden
ontario.ca
· checked
haliburtoncounty.ca · checked - Dave Burton as Warden haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Deputy Mayor of Highlands East haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Cecil Ryall as Deputy Mayor of Highlands East haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Deputy Mayor of Algonquin Highlands haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Jennifer Dailloux as Deputy Mayor of Algonquin Highlands haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Lisa Schell as Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Mayor of Minden Hills haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Bob Carter as Mayor of Minden Hills haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Mayor of Highlands East haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Dave Burton as Mayor of Highlands East haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Mayor of Algonquin Highlands haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Liz Danielsen as Mayor of Algonquin Highlands haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Pat Casey as Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Mayor of Dysart et al haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
- Walt McKechnie as Mayor of Dysart et al haliburtoncounty.ca · checked
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)).
iSourced · checked : show the source for each fact
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
Sources
- haliburtoncounty.ca · checked Haliburton County, Meet Your Council page (each municipality is represented by its Mayor and Deputy Mayor; Warden elected annually), retrieved 2026-10-11; Dysart et al members from the Municipality of Dysart et al council page (Mayor Walt McKechnie appointed 7 July 2026, Deputy Mayor Pat Casey appointed 28 July 2026) For: Haliburton County Council, Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills, Mayor of Minden Hills, Warden, Mayor of Highlands East and 8 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: Warden
- haliburtoncounty.ca · checked Haliburton County, Meet Your Council page (each municipality is represented by its Mayor and Deputy Mayor; Warden elected annually), retrieved 2026-10-11; Dysart et al members from the Municipality of Dysart et al council page (Mayor Walt McKechnie appointed 7 July 2026, Deputy Mayor Pat Casey appointed 28 July 2026); ex officio term follows the member's current term as Deputy Mayor (same person) For: Lisa Schell as Deputy Mayor of Minden Hills, Pat Casey as Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al
- haliburtoncounty.ca · checked Haliburton County, Meet Your Council page (each municipality is represented by its Mayor and Deputy Mayor; Warden elected annually), retrieved 2026-10-11; Dysart et al members from the Municipality of Dysart et al council page (Mayor Walt McKechnie appointed 7 July 2026, Deputy Mayor Pat Casey appointed 28 July 2026); ex officio term follows the member's current term as Mayor (same person) For: Bob Carter as Mayor of Minden Hills, Dave Burton as Mayor of Highlands East, Liz Danielsen as Mayor of Algonquin Highlands, Walt McKechnie as Mayor of Dysart et al