Team

The Corporate Services department is comprised of twenty-three (23) highly motivated and skilled staff who provide professional customer service to external and internal clients, advice, analysis, processing, and management of resources essential to the successful operation of the municipal corporation:

• Director – Matt MacDonald
• Governance Support – Administrative Coordinator, Council Services Assistants, CSRs (4)
• Parking Administration, Business Licensing, Insurance Claims Management, MFIPPA Administration – Deputy
  Clerk, Licensing Officer, Administrative Assistant, Parking Maintenance Technician, CSRs (5)
• IS Administration & Management – Manager, Technical Services Supervisor, Senior Project Supervisor, Senior
  Applications Analyst, Senior Services Analyst, Senior Systems Analyst, Information Systems Coordinator, GIS
  Supervisor, GIS Technician, Web Services Technician, Information Services Assistant (11)
• Realty & Property Administration – Manager of Property & Property Services (1)
• Corporate Accessibility Compliance – Accessibility Coordinator (1)

Responsibilities

Corporate Services provides administrative oversight and governance guidance to internal and external stakeholders to ensure that programs and services are delivered to citizens in accordance with Council’s priorities in an efficient and effective manner.

The department provides operational support to Council related to legislated processes and statutory responsibilities while fulfilling all statutory duties of the office of the Clerk.

In addition, the department has provided centralized support corporately though the provision of Information Systems as a partner and a service provider to all stakeholders. This division has recently moved out of Corporate Services and is now a standalone department.

Realty and Property Services as a part of the department provides professional real estate services to internal and external stakeholders related to municipal real estate transactions.

• Internal stakeholders: Council, City departmental staff
• External stakeholders: Federal and Provincial Government, Boards & Committees, Ratepayers, Municipal Partners

Governance

Municipal guiding documents and plans that govern the work of the Corporate Services department:

• Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 – Governs the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Municipality.
• Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32 – Governs the rules, regulations, manner and general terms in which
  municipal elections are conducted.
• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56 – Provides the framework for the public right of access to and protection of information in possession of the municipality.
• Land Titles Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.5 – Provides a system whereby documents are reviewed for legal effect confirming legal
  ownership prior to transfer of title rights from one party to another.
• Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33 – Establishes a system to prosecute non-criminal charges such as traffic offences, trespassing charges, environmental charges, and liquor licensing violations.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11 – Establishes a process for developing and enforcing accessibility standards.

Trends

Legislative/Governance

• Legislation from the provincial government, including Bill 109 More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022; Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022; Bill 23 More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022; and Bill 39 Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022.
• Accessibility legislation through the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) impacting municipal service levels and budgets.
• Provincial deficit resulting in pressures on municipal budgets.
• Open Government legislation that requires further openness and transparency by municipalities and our continued transition to meet these
  standards and the related resource requirements both technological and staff time.

Economic

• Impact of legislative service requirements on municipality related to matters affecting real property, housing, planning, and development.
• Ability of residents to pay based on performance of the economy and the impact on service delivery and local decision making of Council.
• Municipality’s ability to continue to rely on local service providers (community groups) to provide services and remain fiscally viable (potential result in costs shifting to municipality).

Technology

• Technology will be at the forefront driving change with new options providing efficiencies internally and front facing.
• Rapid development in technologies transforming the way that municipalities work and the way that residents interact with the municipality, businesses and each other.
• Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a core piece of the organization’s strategy moving forward.
• Balancing system capacity/capabilities and access and with appropriate controls to maintain privacy and security