big issues:the mayor and city council
The Know Your Vote T.O. "Big Issues" primers are meant to be starting points for readers to continue their own learning and investigation. Note: Sources include City of Toronto materials, Ontario legislation, and publicly available educational and media resources.
Listen to this primer
What the City Can, and Can't, Do
Toronto City Council's powers come from the Province of Ontario. The Province can change municipal powers through legislation. This is true of every Ontario municipality.
The City of Toronto Act, 2006 gives Toronto broader powers than most Ontario municipalities. The Province retains authority to override or modify many municipal decisions, including land use planning. And the City's ways to raise money are limited.
Toronto can tax property, land sales, hotel stays and vacant homes.
Go to information sourceThe City cannot charge income or sales taxes. Property tax raised about $5.8 billion in 2026 — a little under a third of the City's operating budget.
Go to information sourcePlanning decisions are made within rules the Province sets. Some City planning decisions can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. This is an independent provincial body that can change or overturn City decisions.
Go to information sourceThe Province can also make planning decisions that affect Toronto directly. It can do this through provincial legislation or other powers, even when its decision differs from City Council's.
Go to information source
The Mayor's Role and "Strong Mayor" Powers
The Mayor is elected citywide. Under provincial law, the Mayor is "head of council" — the City's formal leader. The Mayor speaks for Toronto to other governments and internationally (Go to information source).
The Mayor has one vote, like any other member. Provincial legislation enacted in 2022, Bill 3 and Bill 39, provided the Mayor with additional powers commonly referred to as "strong mayor" powers (Go to information source). These cover influence and decisions over the budget, hiring and firing some senior staff, some committees, and the ability to veto some City Council decisions.
One notable feature of the legislation is that, if the Mayor thinks a by-law could advance a provincial priority, the Mayor can propose it. It can pass with as few as 9 of Council's 26 members. That rule and the Mayor's veto are the exceptions. On everything else, City Council still decides by simple majority.
The Province sets those priorities. Currently, they relate to housing, and the infrastructure needed to support housing growth (Go to information source).
The Mayor can veto some City Council decisions that could interfere with a provincial priority. City Council can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
Go to information sourceThe Mayor must prepare the City's budget with staff each year and propose it to City Council. City Council can amend it, and the Mayor can veto those amendments. City Council can override that veto with a two-thirds vote.
Go to information sourceThe Mayor can hire or dismiss the City Manager and the heads of City divisions. Some senior officials are excluded: the Auditor General, the Integrity Commissioner, the Lobbyist Registrar, the Ombudsman; the police chief, the fire chief, the City Librarian, and the medical officer of health.
Go to information sourceThe Mayor can create or dissolve committees made up only of City Council members, and decide what they do. The Mayor also appoints the committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs.
Go to information source
City Council's Role and Powers
City Council is Toronto's elected legislative body. It passes by-laws and sets the property tax rate. The Mayor prepares the budget and City Council votes on it. The operating budget funds day-to-day services like garbage collection, snow clearing and recreation programs. The capital budget funds building and repairs, like roads and community centres.
Most items go to a committee before City Council votes on them. A committee is a small group of Councillors. They hear from the public, study an item in detail, and usually recommend what City Council should do. City Council meets about ten times a year, and its committees meet first.
City Council has a few kinds of committees. The Executive Committee, chaired by the Mayor, handles citywide matters and City Council's overall priorities. Standing Committees cover specific matters like parks, roads, garbage, housing and licensing. They can only recommend, so their items normally go to a full City Council vote.
Community Councils handle local matters in one part of the city — Etobicoke York, North York, Scarborough, or Toronto and East York. City Council has given them the final say on some routine local matters, such as parking, traffic signs and trees (Go to information source).
Many municipal services are delivered through agencies, boards and commissions such as the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Toronto Police Service, and Toronto Public Library. Most have their own governing boards and remain accountable to City Council through reporting and governance requirements.
City Council sets policy, and staff carry it out through the City Manager and Toronto Public Service. The City's public service by-law requires staff to perform their duties in a politically impartial manner (Go to information source, Go to information source).
As of August 2026, Toronto council has an Executive Committee, 10 committees that report to council, four community councils — one for each part of the city — along with other committees and boards that support the work of government.
Go to information sourceToronto uses first-past-the-post. The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. City Council terms are four years.
Go to information source
Accountability and Engagement
Council members answer to the public in several ways. They follow the City's Code of Conduct and the provincial Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The Act defines conflicts of interest and requires members to declare them when applicable. The Integrity Commissioner advises members and investigates complaints.
The conduct rules are changing. The Municipal Accountability Act, 2026 (Bill 9) became law in June 2026. Its main rules are not yet in force. Once they are, one provincial code of conduct will replace local codes, including Toronto's. The new law establishes a process to remove a member from office for serious misconduct. Before this, available penalties included a reprimand, or the loss of up to 90 days' pay.
Residents can take part in several ways. They can speak at committee meetings, join City consultations, submit written comments, or contact their Councillor directly. The City posts its consultations on Have Your Say Toronto. For issues beyond the City Council's authority, residents can contact their provincial or federal representatives (Go to information source, Go to information source).
Planning decisions have a more formal process. Ontario's Planning Act requires a public meeting before City Council decides an application to change the Official Plan or the Zoning By-law (Go to information source).
Four accountability officers are independent of City staff and report to City Council. They are the Auditor General, the Integrity Commissioner, the Lobbyist Registrar, and Ombudsman Toronto.
Go to information sourceAnyone can search the City's lobbyist registry to see who is lobbying City Hall.
Go to information sourceAnyone with a concern about a City Council member's conduct can complain to the Integrity Commissioner.
Go to information source