Decision-making at the City of Toronto
City Council is made up of locally elected Councillors who make decisions on behalf of their constituents. Issues are identified by the public, through research, as follow-up to existing programs, services or policies or as part of the everyday work of running a city and achieving council's priorities.
As a first step in the decision-making process, City staff prepare reports for the Executive Committee or one of the seven Standing Committees of Council or a Community Council. Reports are dealt with at the standing committees by either being:
- approved (as is or amended)(only at Community Council),
- deferred, (to a set date or indefintely),
- received (for information only), (if an information report),
- referred (back to staff or another committee for more information) or,
- recommended (goes to council as is or amended)
If the majority of committee members approve a report, it then goes to City Council (Community councils can make final decisions on some local issues).
When a report reaches City Council, it is considered along with other business items including contracts, budgets, policies, correspondence, agreements, and legal issues requiring Council's attention.
An Agenda outlines all the items to be dealt with during Council's session (usually 2 days). The online Meeting Monitor shows what has been adopted, held for debate, and what requires a decision urgently.
| Decision-making process |
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When Council deals with an item it can approve, refer, defer, receive, or amend. All approved items are confirmed by by-law. The Toronto Public Service is responsible for implementing the by-laws. Decisions, minutes and the records of Council decisions are kept by the City Clerks Office. Council and committee meetings are open to the public.
Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council is the main governing and legislative body of the City of Toronto. Council is composed of the Mayor and 44 Councillors. The Mayor is the only member of Council who is elected by voters from across the city. The Mayor has one vote on Council and is a voting member, by right of his office, at all standing committees of Council. Each councillor represents one of Toronto's 44 municipal wards (a geographic area of the city). The term of office for the Mayor and Council is four years.
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Toronto City Council has direct responsibility for the City's services. Council also indirectly oversees other major services (such as police, transit, public health, libraries, public housing) through the appointment of Council members to the boards of directors of the City Council's agencies, boards, commissions and corporations (ABCCs).
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee monitors and makes recommendations on:
- Council's strategic policy and priorities in setting the agenda
- Governance policy and structure
- Financial planning and budgeting
- Fiscal policy including revenue and tax policies
- Intergovernmental and international relations
- Council and its operations, and
- Human resources and labour relations
The Executive Committee's members are the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Chairs of the standing committees, and four councillors appointed by Council who are not the Chair of either the Toronto Transit Commission or the Police Services Board. The Executive Committee chooses the Chair of the Budget Committee and the Chair of the Employee and Labour Relations Committee from amongst its members.
Several committees report mainly to Executive:
| Committee |
Focus |
| Affordable Housing |
Affordable housing policies, acquiring land for affordable housing, providing funding and financing, development fee and charge waivers and property tax reductions or waivers for affordable housing projects. Proposes legislation and advocates to the provincial and federal governments. In charge of strategic planning for Toronto Community Housing, and measuring the effectiveness of Affordable Housing Office projects. |
| Budget Committee |
Includes, but are not limited to, coordinating the preparation of the capital and operating estimates, and making recommendations on the capital and operating budgets. |
| Employee and Labour Relations |
Reviews corporate human resource policy issues related to achieving and maintaining excellence in the public service and issues that affect the workforce. Responsibilities include compensation, performance management, training and development, recruitment, retention, retirement, labour relations, human rights, equity goals, wellness, and health and safety strategic policy direction on collective bargaining. |
Standing Policy Committees
The seven Standing Committees are permanent committees of Toronto City Council. They provide a forum for public input and discussion on issues within their areas of responsibility. The standing committees discuss budget, service and administrative issues, and make recommendations to Council for debate and final decision. Members of the public can provide their input during committee meetings by speaking for up to five minutes and receiving questions from Councillors.
| Standing Policy Committee |
Focus |
| Community Development & Recreation |
Social inclusion and undertaking work to strengthen services to communities and neighbourhoods. |
| Economic Development |
Economy and investment climate; monitors and makes recommendations to strengthen Toronto's economy and investment climate. |
| Government Management |
Government assets and resources; monitors and makes recommendations on the administrative operations of the City. |
| Licensing & Standards |
Consumer safety and protection; monitors and makes recommendations on the licensing of business and the enforcement of property standards. |
| Parks & Environment |
Monitors, makes recommendations and undertakes work to ensure the sustainability of Toronto's natural environment. |
| Planning & Growth Management |
Urban form and work related to good city planning; monitors and makes recommendations on the planning, growth and development of the city. |
| Public Works & Infrastructure |
Delivers and maintains Toronto's infrastructure; monitors and makes recommendations on Toronto's infrastructure needs and services. |
Community Councils
There are also four Community Councils, each representing a geographic area of the city. Their responsibilities generally include making recommendations and decisions on local planning and development, as well as neighbourhood matters including traffic plans and parking regulations. Each community council reports to City Council but they also have final decision-making power on certain items, such as sign and fence by-law exemptions and appointments to local boards and Business Improvement Areas.
Council Committees
Councillors also serve on the Budget Committee, the Audit Committee, the Striking Committee, the Civic Appointments Committee and a number of other deliberative bodies including those formed for a special single or time-limited purpose.
| Committee |
Focus |
| Audit |
Considers and recommends to Council the appointment of external auditors for the City and the Auditor General's office; the annual external audits of the financial statements of the City, its agencies and the Auditor General's office; the Auditor General's reports, audit plan and accomplishments. |
| Board of Health |
Ensures that Toronto Public Health delivers programs and services in response to local needs determines and sets public health policy and advises City Council on a broad range of health issues; recommendations with citywide or financial implications are forwarded to City Council for final approval. |
| Civic Appointments |
Considers and recommends to Council the names of citizens to appoint to agencies. |
| Striking |
Recommends councillor appointments to fill the positions of the boards outlined above, as well many other boards, agencies and advisory committees; makes recommendations to Council on the meeting schedule for Council and Council Committees. |
For additional information on any Council Committee, special committees or task forces contact the City Clerk's Office at
416-392-8016.
Find out more - get involved
This booklet is just one in a series on the City of Toronto. To find out more about the information in this guide, or to learn about the City's services and programs:
- An A-Z listing of all the City's services
- To find out about public consultation opportunities, upcoming events, public appointments and how to have your input on City decisions
- Access Toronto is the public information and referral service for the City of Toronto. The Access Toronto Call Centre is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Service is also available in person from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at each of the civic centres.
Phone: 416-338-0338
TTY: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
E-mail: accesstoronto@toronto.ca
This is a summary of "Participate in your local government" (PDF). Produced by Access Toronto, City of Toronto
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