Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island) Council

Provides good government; services, facilities or other things council considers necessary or desirable; safe and viable communities; the well-being of the environment; economic development; and works with neighbouring municipalities on intermunicipal services (Municipal Government Act s.3). A municipality has natural person powers (s.6).

Passes and enforces bylaws on the safety, health and welfare of people and protection of people and property; people, activities and things in or near public places; nuisances, including unsightly property; wild and domestic animals; and the enforcement of bylaws, with fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to one year (Municipal Government Act s.7(a)-(c), (h), (i)).

Regulates businesses, business activities and persons engaged in business, including by licences and permits (Municipal Government Act s.7(e), s.8).

Sets the property tax: council must pass a property tax bylaw every year to raise the revenue its budget needs (Municipal Government Act s.353).

Has the direction, control and management of all roads within the municipality, subject to other Acts (Municipal Government Act s.18); bylaws on transport and transportation systems (s.7(d)).

May provide and regulate public utilities: water, sewage disposal, public transportation operated by or for the municipality, irrigation, drainage, fuel, electric power, heat, waste management and street lighting (Municipal Government Act s.1(1)(y), s.7(g)).

Provides and regulates services delivered by or on behalf of the municipality (Municipal Government Act s.3(b), s.7(f)).

Adopts a municipal development plan and a land use bylaw that regulates the use and development of land and buildings (Municipal Government Act s.632, s.640); decides development permits and subdivisions under Part 17.

Cities, and towns, villages and summer villages with more than 5,000 people, must arrange their own policing: a municipal or regional police service, or an agreement such as with the provincial police service. Municipal districts, specialized municipalities (outside urban service areas over 5,000) and towns, villages and summer villages of 5,000 or fewer receive provincial policing and may choose their own service instead (Police Act s.4).