TransparentGovernment

Closed sessions are sometimes legally necessary. The Municipal Act allows Council to meet behind closed doors for specific reasons such as legal matters, labour relations, property acquisitions, and other sensitive issues where confidentiality is required.

However, residents expect closed sessions to be the exception, not the norm. The Municipal Act makes openness the rule and secrecy the exception. Closed sessions should only be used when a specific exemption applies and there is a genuine need to exclude the public.

Too often, the public is left with little understanding of why Council met behind closed doors, what was discussed, or what decisions emerged from those discussions. Even when information can legally be shared afterward, many municipalities provide only minimal explanations.

Transparency should not end when a meeting moves into closed session.

An Elevate Wasaga administration will establish a Closed Session Accountability Framework built on a simple principle: if information can legally be shared, it should be shared. Open by default.

The goal is not to eliminate closed sessions where they are required by law. The goal is to ensure that every closed session is properly justified, properly documented and followed by the maximum level of public disclosure permitted by law.

Record Closed Sessions

All closed sessions will be audio and video recorded and securely archived.

These recordings will not be released publicly while confidentiality obligations remain in effect, but they will provide an accurate record of what occurred and protect both the public interest and Council members.

Archived recordings will also assist future councils in understanding past decisions when confidentiality restrictions no longer apply.

Strengthen the Threshold for Going In Camera

Before entering closed session, Council should clearly explain:

• The specific Municipal Act exception being relied upon;
• Why the matter qualifies for that exception;
• Why public discussion is not possible.

Simply citing a section number should not be considered sufficient. Residents deserve a more meaningful explanation.

Closed Session Checklist

A formal checklist will be used before every closed session to ensure:

• The matter legally qualifies;
• The correct exception is being used;
• Public disclosure options have been considered;
• Confidentiality is genuinely necessary.

The checklist will become part of the official record.

Written Reasons and Public Reporting

Following every closed session, Council will provide a public summary explaining:

• The general subject matter discussed;
• Any direction given to staff;
• Any actions taken;
• Any information that can legally be disclosed.

The objective is to provide as much information as possible without compromising legitimate confidentiality requirements.

Annual Closed Session Report

Each year, the Town will publish a report outlining:

• The number of closed sessions held;
• The reasons they were held;
• The Municipal Act provisions relied upon;
• Trends and opportunities to improve transparency.

Residents should be able to see how frequently closed sessions are being used and why.

Independent Review and Compliance

The Town will maintain clear procedures to ensure compliance with the Municipal Act, Ombudsman guidance, and best practices in municipal governance.

Regular reviews will help ensure that closed sessions remain limited to situations where confidentiality is truly necessary.

Residents should never have to wonder how or why major decisions are being made.

Council meetings are where public business is conducted, public funds are allocated and decisions are made that shape the future of Wasaga Beach. Residents deserve the ability to follow those decisions, understand the reasoning behind them, and participate meaningfully in the process.

Transparency is not simply about making information available. It is about making information understandable, accessible and available early enough for residents to engage with it.

Earlier Access to Information

Residents cannot participate in decisions if they do not have time to review the information.

An Elevate Wasaga administration will work to provide agenda materials at least 72 hours prior to council meetings, allowing residents, businesses, community groups and the media adequate time to review issues before Council votes.

Major reports and supporting documents should be available well in advance whenever possible.

Clearer Reports and Recommendations

Municipal reports should be written for residents, not just for municipal experts.

Major reports should include:

• A plain-language summary;
• The problem being addressed;
• Available options;
• Financial impacts;
• Risks and benefits;
• The reason staff are making a recommendation.

Residents should not need specialized knowledge to understand decisions that affect their community.

Public Education Through Open Government

Council orientation sessions, governance training and educational presentations should be conducted publicly and in open session whenever possible.

Residents should be able to see how municipal government works, how decisions are made and what responsibilities belong to Council versus administration.

An informed public creates a stronger community.

Accessible Meetings

Council meetings should be accessible to working families, seniors, business owners and residents with varying schedules. Moving council meetings back to evenings would allow for a greater potential for public attendance.

We cannot improve what we do not measure, as such, meeting schedules and participation opportunities should be regularly reviewed to maximize public accessibility and engagement.

Meaningful Public Reporting

Major projects, strategic initiatives and significant Council decisions should include regular public progress updates.

Residents deserve to know:

• What was approved;
• What has been completed;
• What remains outstanding;
• Whether projects remain on budget and on schedule.

Accountability does not end after a vote is taken.

Transparency Beyond the Minimum

Municipal legislation establishes minimum transparency requirements. The goal should not be to meet the minimum standard. The goal should be to exceed it.

Council should operate with a presumption of openness, sharing information whenever it can legally and responsibly do so.

When residents are informed, trust grows. When trust grows, communities become stronger.

The people of Wasaga Beach should not have to fight to be heard by their own government.

Residents bring valuable experience, local knowledge and perspectives that can help Council make better decisions. Public participation is not an obstacle to good governance, it is an essential part of it.

When residents are informed, engaged and welcomed into the process, decisions are stronger and public trust grows, as does the strength of the community.

Lower Barriers to Participation

Residents should be able to speak to Council without unnecessary obstacles.

An Elevate Wasaga administration will review and simplify participation procedures, eliminating the requirement to pre register the day before, to ensure residents can easily share their views on matters that affect their community.

The goal should be to encourage participation, not discourage it. If you show up to a council meeting, you deserve the respect of being heard.

Make Public Meetings More Accessible

Many residents have work, family, or caregiving responsibilities that make participation difficult. Moving council meetings back to evenings would allow for better attendance and participation.

Meeting schedules, public engagement opportunities, and communication methods should be reviewed regularly to maximize accessibility and encourage broader participation from all parts of the community.

Meaningful Consultation

Public consultation should occur before major decisions are made, not after.

Residents should have an opportunity to provide input while options are still being considered and before outcomes are effectively determined.

Public consultation should always be genuine, not simply a procedural requirement.

Better Information Leads to Better Participation

Meaningful participation requires meaningful information.

Residents should have access to reports, studies, financial information and supporting materials early enough to understand issues and provide informed feedback.

People cannot participate effectively if they do not know what is being proposed.

Multiple Ways to Participate

Not every resident can attend a Council meeting. The Town should continue to support and explore multiple ways for residents to engage, including:

• Public meetings;
• Online engagement tools;
• Surveys and feedback opportunities;
• Open houses;
• Advisory committees and working groups.

Different residents participate in different ways, and all voices should have an opportunity to be heard.

Respect Every Voice

Public participation works best when people feel welcomed and respected.

Residents should be able to express their opinions, even when those opinions differ from Council, staff, or other members of the community.

Healthy debate is a sign of a healthy democracy and is the pressure that turns ideas into diamonds. Our community deserves diamonds.

Annual Participation Review

Public participation policies should be reviewed regularly to identify barriers, improve accessibility and ensure the process continues to meet the needs of the community.

The goal should always be continuous improvement.

Municipal social media accounts exist to serve residents, not to control public discussion.

For many people, social media has become the primary way they receive updates about Council decisions, public meetings, municipal projects, service disruptions and community events.

Residents should be able to engage with their local government online without fear that respectful criticism or differing opinions will be removed simply because they are unpopular or uncomfortable.

A transparent government should welcome public discussion.

Viewpoint Neutral Moderation

A Show Your Work administration will support a social media policy that focuses on behaviour, not opinions.

Comments should not be removed simply because they criticize Council, staff, policies, or municipal decisions.

Residents should be free to respectfully express support, disagreement, or concern regarding municipal matters.

The role of moderation should be to maintain respectful discussion, not to control public opinion.

Clear Community Standards

Municipal social media accounts should have clear, publicly available moderation rules.

Content may be removed when it includes:

• Threats or harassment;
• Hate speech;
• Obscenity;
• Spam or commercial solicitation;
• Personal information;
• Content prohibited by law.

The rules should be simple, transparent, and applied consistently.

No Blocking Based on Criticism

Residents should not be blocked from municipal social media platforms simply because they disagree with Council or express criticism of municipal decisions.

Public accounts should remain accessible to all residents, only commenting may be blocked in cases involving repeated violations of clearly established conduct rules.

Transparency in Moderation

When comments are removed or users are restricted, records should be maintained explaining:

• What action was taken;
• Why it was taken;
• Which policy provision was applied.

Moderation decisions should be accountable and reviewable.

Appeals Process

Residents should have a straightforward process to request a review of moderation decisions.

Mistakes happen, and there should be a fair mechanism for addressing concerns regarding removed comments or account restrictions.

Social Media as a Public Information Tool

Municipal social media should focus on:

• Sharing information;
• Improving public awareness;
• Promoting community engagement;
• Encouraging participation in local government.

It should not be used to promote individual politicians or advance political interests. Residents deserve information, not political messaging.

Regular Policy Review

The Town should review its social media policy regularly to ensure it remains fair, transparent, and consistent with evolving best practices and public expectations.

As communication methods change, municipal policies should evolve as well.

Every tax dollar belongs to the people of Wasaga Beach.

Residents have a right to know how their money is being spent, how much debt the Town is carrying, what financial commitments are being made, and whether projects are being delivered on budget.

Financial transparency is not just about publishing numbers. It is about providing clear, understandable information that allows residents to see how decisions affect their community and their taxes.

A transparent government should be willing to show its work.

Public Financial Dashboard

An Elevate Wasaga administration will establish a public financial dashboard that allows residents to easily access key financial information.

The dashboard should include:

• Current operating budget performance;
• Capital project spending;
• Reserve and reserve fund balances;
• Debt balances;
• Major project updates;
• Annual budget comparisons.

Residents should not need to search through hundreds of pages of reports to understand the Town’s finances.

Monthly Spending Reports

The Town should publish regular summaries of municipal spending so residents can see where public funds are being used.

These reports should provide clear information regarding:

• Major expenditures;
• Contract payments;
• Significant purchases;
• Budget variances.

Transparency builds trust and helps ensure accountability.

Debt Transparency

Municipal borrowing can be an important tool, but residents deserve to understand the long-term impact of debt decisions.

The Town should maintain a public debt tracker that clearly identifies:

• Total municipal debt;
• Major borrowing projects;
• Annual repayment obligations;
• Debt trends over time.

Residents should be able to see both the benefits and the costs associated with major borrowing decisions.

Major Project Financial Reporting

Large municipal projects should include ongoing public reporting throughout the life of the project.

Residents deserve regular updates on:

• Approved budgets;
• Current spending;
• Schedule performance;
• Change orders;
• Financial risks;
• Project completion status.

Accountability should continue after a project is approved.

Clear Financial Summaries

Municipal budgets and financial statements are often difficult for residents to understand.

Major financial reports should include plain-language summaries explaining:

• What is changing;
• Why it is changing;
• The impact on taxpayers;
• The risks and opportunities being considered.

Good information should be accessible to everyone, not just financial professionals.

Transparency Before Decisions

Financial information should be provided before major decisions are made, not after.

Council and residents should have access to the information necessary to understand:

• Costs;
• Risks;
• Alternatives;
• Long-term obligations;
• Potential impacts on future budgets.

Better information leads to better decisions.

Long-Term Financial Planning

Short-term decisions can create long-term consequences.

The Town should regularly communicate its long-term financial outlook, including:

• Infrastructure funding needs;
• Debt projections;
• Reserve requirements;
• Growth-related costs;
• Future financial risks.

Responsible government requires looking beyond the next budget year.

Municipal land belongs to the people of Wasaga Beach.

Whether it is a waterfront property, a future park site, a development parcel, or surplus municipal land, these assets have been acquired and maintained with public funds over many years.

When municipal land is sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, residents deserve confidence that the process is transparent, fair, and protects the public interest.

Public assets should never be undervalued, rushed to market, or transferred without clear accountability.

Independent Appraisals

Before any significant municipal land transaction is approved, the property should be valued through an independent professional appraisal.

Council and residents deserve reliable information regarding the fair market value of public assets before decisions are made.

Independent valuations help ensure that taxpayers receive fair value and that decisions are based on objective information.

Full Public Disclosure

Residents should have access to the information necessary to understand proposed land transactions.

Whenever legally possible, public reports should clearly identify:

• The property involved;
• The proposed transaction;
• Independent valuation information;
• The public purpose of the transaction;
• Any financial implications;
• Any conditions or obligations attached to the agreement.

Transparency should always be the default.

Protecting Taxpayer Value

The disposal of municipal land should be guided by long-term community benefit, not short-term convenience.

Council should carefully evaluate:

• Financial return;
• Strategic value;
• Future municipal needs;
• Public access considerations;
• Economic development impacts;
• Long-term taxpayer interests.

Once municipal land is sold, it is often impossible to recover. These decisions deserve careful consideration.

Open and Competitive Processes

Whenever practical, municipal land should be offered through transparent and competitive processes.

Competitive processes help maximize value, encourage fairness, and build public confidence that all interested parties have been treated equally.

Exceptions should be clearly explained and justified.

Enhanced Reporting for Major Transactions

Large or strategically important land transactions should receive enhanced public reporting.

Major transactions should include:

• Independent valuation summaries;
• Alternative options considered;
• Financial analysis;
• Risk assessments;
• Expected community benefits;
• Long-term implications.

Residents deserve to understand not only what decision is being proposed, but why it is being recommended.

Public Asset Registry

The Town should maintain a publicly accessible inventory of municipal land holdings.

Residents should be able to see:

• What land the Town owns;
• The general purpose of those properties;
• Whether properties are active municipal assets, parks, infrastructure lands, or surplus holdings.

Public assets should always be visible to the public.

Transparency Before Commitments

Major land transactions should be discussed openly before commitments are made.

Residents should have an opportunity to understand and comment on significant proposals before Council reaches a final decision whenever possible.

Meaningful public engagement strengthens public trust.

Residents elect Council to set priorities and make decisions on behalf of the community.

Town staff have a different role. Their responsibility is to provide professional advice, deliver services, implement Council decisions, and serve residents fairly and impartially.

When politics begins to influence administration, everyone loses.

Staff can feel pressured. Residents can lose confidence in decisions. Public trust in local government can be weakened.

A healthy municipality requires a clear separation between political decision-making and professional administration.

An Elevate Wasaga administration will work to strengthen the distinction between politics and administration, ensuring that Town Hall remains focused on serving residents.

Respect the Role of Staff

Town staff should be able to provide professional advice without political pressure.

Council should encourage honest recommendations, even when those recommendations are unpopular. The goal should be better decisions, not predetermined outcomes.

Professional, Non Partisan Administration

Municipal services should be delivered fairly, consistently, and without political influence.

Residents should have confidence that municipal decisions are being made based on facts, policies, and community needs, not political considerations.

Improve Workplace Culture

A respectful workplace begins with leadership.

Council should foster an environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to do their jobs effectively. Improving morale and retaining experienced staff benefits the entire community.

No Campaigning with Taxpayer Resources

Municipal communications should focus on informing residents, not promoting elected officials.

Town publications, advertisements, newsletters, and taxpayer-funded communications should not be used for political branding or election-related promotion.

Focus on Results

Council’s role is to set direction. Staff’s role is to execute that direction professionally.

When both groups are allowed to perform their proper roles, residents receive better service and the municipality operates more effectively.

Consent agendas were designed to improve efficiency by grouping routine, non-controversial items into a single vote. When used properly, they allow Council to spend more time discussing important issues.

However, consent agendas should never be used to reduce transparency, limit public awareness, or avoid meaningful debate on significant matters.

Residents deserve confidence that important decisions will be openly discussed before Council votes.

An Elevate Wasaga administration will establish clear standards governing what may and may not be placed on a consent agenda.

Items Eligible for Consent Agendas

Consent agendas should generally be limited to:

• Routine correspondence;
• Information reports requiring no action;
• Administrative updates;
• Standard procedural matters;
• Previously approved projects with no material changes;
• Minor housekeeping amendments.

Items Not Eligible for Consent Agendas

The following should normally require separate discussion and voting:

• Major financial commitments;
• Borrowing approvals;
• Municipal land transactions;
• Development agreements;
• Significant policy changes;
• New bylaws of broad public interest;
• Changes to public services or service levels;
• Matters involving substantial taxpayer risk;
• Issues that generated significant public interest or concern;
• Any item identified by Council as requiring discussion.

Public Interest Test

Before an item is placed on a consent agenda, staff should consider:

“Would a reasonable resident expect this item to receive its own public discussion before Council votes?”

If the answer is yes, the item should appear as a separate agenda item.

Easy Removal for Discussion

Any member of Council should be able to remove an item from the consent agenda without requiring a justification or vote. Transparency should always take precedence over convenience.

Annual Review

The Town should annually review consent agenda practices to ensure they are being used as intended and not becoming a mechanism for limiting public debate.

A transparent government should not require residents to file Freedom of Information requests to obtain information that can legally be shared.

Too often, residents, journalists, and community organizations are forced to spend time and money requesting documents that should already be publicly available. This creates frustration, increases administrative costs, and erodes public trust.

The Routine Disclosure Policy is built on a simple principle: if information can legally be shared, it should be shared proactively.

Instead of waiting for requests, the Town should routinely publish information that residents have a legitimate interest in seeing. Transparency should be the default, not the exception.

What Should Be Routinely Disclosed

Subject to privacy legislation, legal restrictions, and confidential personnel matters, the Town should proactively publish:

Consultant Reports and Studies

• Planning studies;
• Engineering reports;
• Financial studies;
• Environmental assessments;
• External reviews and audits.

If taxpayers paid for the report, taxpayers should be able to read it.

Municipal Contracts and Agreements

• Major service agreements;
• Construction contracts;
• Procurement awards;
• Amendments and change orders.

Residents should be able to see what was purchased, who received the contract, and how much it cost.

Financial Information

• Monthly cheque registers;
• Budget-to-actual reporting;
• Debt reports;
• Reserve fund balances;
• Quarterly financial summaries.

Residents deserve a clear understanding of how public funds are being managed.

Municipal Land Transactions

• Independent appraisals;
• Sale agreements;
• Purchase agreements;
• Lease agreements;
• Supporting reports.

Municipal land belongs to the public and decisions involving public assets should be transparent.

Council and Committee Information

• Agenda materials;
• Background reports;
• Presentations;
• Educational materials;
• Policy reviews.

Residents should have access to the same information council uses when making decisions whenever legally possible.

Project Reporting

• Major capital project updates;
• Budget status;
• Timeline updates;
• Change orders;
• Project completion reports.

Residents should be able to track the progress of projects funded with public dollars.

Routine Disclosure Before Freedom of Information

The Town should regularly review Freedom of Information requests to identify information that is frequently requested. When the same records are requested repeatedly, those records should be considered for routine public disclosure.

The goal is simple: publish information once so residents do not need to request it repeatedly.

Clear Explanations When Information Cannot Be Released

There will always be information that cannot legally be disclosed. Examples include:

• Personal information;
• Confidential labour relations matters;
• Certain legal advice;
• Information protected by provincial legislation.

When information cannot be released, residents deserve a clear explanation of why. Simply saying confidential is not enough. Town Hall should explain the legal basis for withholding information whenever possible.

Annual Transparency Review

Each year, Council should receive a public report outlining:

• Information routinely disclosed;
• Freedom of Information request trends;
• Opportunities for greater transparency;
• Recommendations for additional disclosure.

Transparency should be continuously improved and regularly measured.

Residents deserve more than announcements, press releases, and project approvals. They deserve a clear way to see whether Town Hall is delivering on its commitments, staying on budget, and making measurable progress.

The Public Performance Dashboard is about bringing accountability into the open. Just as residents can check the weather, traffic conditions, or their bank account online, they should be able to see how their municipal government is performing.

A Show Your Work Government should not only explain its decisions. It should show its results.

As Mayor, I will support the creation of a Public Performance Dashboard that allows residents to track the performance of their municipal government in a simple, accessible, and transparent way.

The dashboard will provide residents with meaningful information about:

• Major infrastructure projects;
• Municipal finances;
• Service delivery performance;
• Community goals and outcomes;
• Growth and development activity;
• Environmental stewardship initiatives.

Residents should not have to wait for year-end reports to understand how their community is performing. Information should be available, understandable and regularly updated.

Showing Progress on Infrastructure

Residents should be able to easily see:

• Which projects are underway;
• Project budgets;
• Project timelines;
• Construction progress;
• Completion dates.

Whether it is a road reconstruction project, drainage improvement, facility upgrade, or major capital investment, residents deserve a clear picture of where projects stand and how public dollars are being spent.

Tracking Financial Performance

The dashboard should help residents understand:

• Budget performance;
• Major expenditures;
• Debt levels;
• Reserve fund balances;
• Long-term financial trends.

Taxpayers deserve more than a once-a-year budget presentation. They deserve ongoing visibility into the financial health of the municipality.

Measuring Service Excellence

Residents should be able to see how Town Hall is performing in areas that affect their daily lives. Examples could include:

• Building permit timelines;
• Customer service response times;
• By-law service performance;
• Recreation participation;
• Project completion rates.

Government should measure performance and share the results with the people it serves.

Supporting Responsible Growth

Growth should be transparent and measurable. The dashboard should provide residents with information about:

• Development activity;
• Housing construction;
• Infrastructure capacity;
• Growth-related investments;
• Community planning objectives.

Residents deserve to see how growth is affecting their community and how infrastructure is keeping pace.

Environmental Stewardship and Resilience

Protecting our environment requires more than good intentions. It requires measurable action. The dashboard should report on initiatives such as:

• Flood mitigation projects;
• Stormwater improvements;
• Shoreline protection efforts;
• Tree planting programs;
• Environmental restoration projects.

Residents should be able to see the progress being made to protect the natural assets that make Wasaga Beach special.

Accountability Through Results

One of the principles of a Show Your Work Government is that success should be measurable. Before major projects are approved, residents should be told what is being proposed, what it will cost, and what outcomes are expected.

After those projects are completed, residents should be able to see what was delivered, what it cost, and whether the goals were achieved.

Accountability should not end when council votes. Accountability begins when implementation starts.

Too often, residents are presented with a recommendation, a vote is taken, and everyone is expected to simply trust that the right choice was made.

A Show Your Work Government starts from a simple principle: if we cannot explain a decision clearly to residents, we should not approve it.

Every major decision made by Council should come with a clear explanation of the facts, the options, the risks, the costs, and the expected outcomes.

The Elevate Wasaga Commitment

As Mayor, I will champion a Show Your Work approach to government. Before major decisions are approved, residents should be able to understand:

• What problem is being solved;
• What options were considered;
• What the decision will cost;
• What risks exist;
• What benefits are expected;
• What alternatives were rejected and why;
• What success will look like.

Government should be able to explain its reasoning in plain language. If a proposal cannot survive public understanding, it probably needs more work.

Better Decisions Through Better Information

A Show Your Work Government is not about creating more bureaucracy. It is about creating better decisions. When assumptions are clearly explained and alternatives are openly discussed:

• Council makes better decisions;
• Staff receive clearer direction;
• Residents gain confidence in the process;
• Public debate becomes more informed.

Transparency is not a barrier to good government. Transparency is how good government is achieved.

Plain Language First

Municipal government often communicates in technical reports, legal language, and administrative terminology. Residents should not need specialized knowledge to understand decisions that affect their community.

Major decisions should include a plain-language explanation that answers the questions residents are most likely to ask:

• What is happening?
• Why is it happening?
• How much will it cost?
• What are the risks?
• What happens next?

Good communication builds trust. Confusing communication creates doubt.

Showing the Alternatives

One of the most important parts of a Show Your Work Government is demonstrating that alternatives were considered. Residents deserve to know:

• What other options were available;
• Why those options were rejected;
• Why the recommended option was selected.

Too often, government presents a recommendation without showing the path that led there. A Show Your Work Government reveals the entire decision making process.

Showing the Results

Transparency should not end when Council votes. Residents deserve to know whether decisions actually achieved their intended goals. For major projects and initiatives, Council should report:

• What was promised;
• What was delivered;
• What it cost;
• What lessons were learned;
• Whether the objectives were achieved.

Accountability does not end with approval. Accountability begins with implementation.

Building a Culture of Openness

A Show Your Work Government creates a culture where transparency becomes the expectation rather than the exception.

When government shows its work, residents can follow the reasoning, understand the decisions, and participate more meaningfully in public life.