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Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance Program Advisory Body

The Program Advisory Body on Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance (“Municipal Autonomy PAB”) will provide advice to the City Manager and City Council through public discussion on how to achieve greater municipal autonomy and effective local governance for the City of Toronto and recommendations for the establishment of a city charter for Toronto.

The mandate for the PAB includes:

• Outlining the potential sharing and/or exclusive jurisdiction between the City and other levels of government;
• Considering the legislative requirements and constitutional considerations for a city charter;
• Identifying opportunities to establish broad, long-term, stable, City-controlled revenue sources that will enhance the City’s financial position and autonomy; and
• Other potential recommendations related to a city charter and greater municipal autonomy.

The Municipal Autonomy PAB will provide its summary advice through a report to the City Manager no later than the end of May 2026. The City Manager will share the report with City Divisions and City Council for information and consideration as appropriate.

The Municipal Autonomy PAB will be supported and facilitated by the City’s Governance and Corporate Strategy unit in the City Manager’s Office.

Responsibilities

Members of the committee are expected to bring their personal expertise and/or interest to:

• Provide insight, share feedback and contribute to the City’s understanding of how to advance a constitutionally-protected City Charter for Toronto.
• Contribute to the work of the committee through its meetings, working groups and the preparation of advice to the City Manager.

Guidelines and orientation for the role of PAB members will be provided at or before the first meeting.

Composition

Membership of the Municipal Autonomy PAB shall be comprised of up to 12 members:

• Four members of the public representing geographic parts of the City (one each who live in the Districts of Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke/York and Toronto/East York);
• Two representatives of the Charter City Toronto organization; and
• Four to six subject matter experts in municipal finance, governance, constitutional law, public engagement, Indigenous knowledge and expertise or other relevant fields.

Co-Chairs

Members of this PAB will appoint, by majority vote, two Co-Chairs from among its members at its first meeting or as soon as possible thereafter.

Eligibility

All applicants must be:

• A resident of Toronto;
• At least 18 years of age (the age of majority in Ontario);
• Cannot be a spouse, partner, child or parent of a Member of Toronto City Council; and
• Cannot be a City of Toronto employee or an employee of a City agency or corporation.

All PAB applicants must satisfy eligibility requirements in order to be selected for an appointment. To remain on the PAB, appointees are required to maintain this status throughout their period of service.

Qualifications

Members are asked to demonstrate a strong interest in empowering cities and have knowledge, skills or experience in one or more of the following:

• A broad and high-level knowledge of and experience in urban affairs, economic development, city building and land use planning.
• Knowledge of the academic research related to city empowerment, autonomy and funding and/or learnings from other jurisdictions.
• Knowledge of constitutional law, municipal law, municipal planning, municipal finance, public administration and governance, Indigenous knowledge and expertise and public engagement.

Term of Office

The PAB will meet until the completion of its mandate or the end of the current 2022-2026 City Council term, whichever comes first.

Time Commitment and Meetings

The Municipal Autonomy PAB will meet at a minimum on a quarterly basis and may meet more frequently according to a schedule developed by City staff with input from PAB members. Each meeting is open to the public, held electronically (or a combination of electronically and in-person, if desired by members and with consideration of timing, space availability and City resources), is expected to last approximately three hours, and be held during regular business hours.

Advisory Group members are expected to actively participate in all meetings. This may involve reviewing documents or reports between meetings. Members may also choose to participate in smaller working groups as may be formed by the Co-Chairs, with variable expected time commitments that will be specified prior to the recruitment of members for a working group. Overall, members should anticipate a variable time commitment of approximately 8-12 hours per quarter (3-month period).

Remuneration

Eligible PAB members will receive an honorarium of $125 per meeting attended in recognition of their contributions to Toronto.

The PAB's honoraria payments are subject to the following:

• Honoraria are not intended for public members who serve on the PAB as representatives of organizations or businesses where they are employed.
• PAB members who serve as a Co-Chair are not eligible for any additional honoraria.
• Honoraria are not paid for attendance at working group meetings.
• Non-members are not eligible to receive honoraria.

Selection and Appointment

The City Manager or designate will convene a selection committee to review applications and nominate public members to participate in the PAB. The City Manager or designate will review nominations and make the final decision on appointments for all PAB members.

Contact Information

For more information about the advisory body and its mandate, please contact engagement@toronto.ca.

Related links

• City of Toronto Act, 2006
• City Council Decision EX20.13 – Towards Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance
• Terms of Reference - Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance Program Advisory Body