There are 3 levels of government in Canada - Federal, Provincial and Municipal.  Each has its own responsibilities, programmes and services.

The Government of Canada is made up of departments, agencies and Crown corporations.  Information about the Federal Government can be obtained from www.canada.gc.ca.

The Ontario government is made up of ministries, agencies, and other offices.  Each one takes care of different programs and services for the residents of Ontario.  Information about the Provincial Government can be obtained from www.gov.on.ca.

The information provided here is about the municipal government in the City of Stratford.

Stratford is a growing city of 30,000 residents located in Perth County.  Stratford is governed by a municipal council comprised of an elected Mayor and 10 Councillors.  Municipal councils are now elected every four years along with district school boards beginning with the 2006 Municipal and School Board elections.

Stratford City Council uses a three-step decision-making process to conduct business.

Issues needing a decision of Council usually begin at the Sub-committee level.  There are 7 Sub-committees comprised of 4 members of Council and the Mayor.  Each Sub-committee is responsible for specific policy areas in the City and provides recommendations that are then considered by the Standing Committee and then finally by Council.

Presiding at a Sub-committee meeting is a member of Council appointed as Chair.  The head of Council, Mayor Mathieson, is an ex-officio member of all sub-committees, standing committees and advisory committees.  The Mayor is entitled to participate and vote at Sub-committee, Committee and Council meetings.

The Sub-committees meet once a month during the day in the Council Chamber.   If you wish to make a presentation, contact the Clerk's Office at 519-271-0250 ext. 237 to determine the appropriate Sub-committee at which to make your presentation.  Sub-committee meetings are open to the public, except for in-camera sessions to discuss certain privileged matters.   Check the City's web site for the Meeting Schedules. You can access Meeting Agendas and Minutes at: Meeting Agendas and Minutes

The 7 Sub-committees of Council are comprised of the following members of Council:

At the meeting, Sub-committee considers issues, background material, information and staff input in order to make recommendations as to what action should be taken.  Sub-committee recommendations then need to go to Committee.

The second step in the decision-making process is Standing Committees of Council.  There are 7 Standing Committees of Council.  A recommendation made at a Sub-committee meeting is forwarded to a Standing Committee.   These Committees meet in the Council Chamber immediately following one of the two regular Council meetings each month.  Committee meetings are also open to the public.

The Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Committees are the same as the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Sub-committees.  All members of Council, including the Mayor, sit on each of the seven Committees.

A Standing Committee may accept or amend a Sub-committee's recommendation.  Once the Committee makes a recommendation, it is then forwarded to the next Regular Council meeting for adoption by Council.  Occasionally, a matter of urgency discussed at a Committee meeting will receive formal approval that same night by Council reconvening at the end of the Committee meeting sessions.

Council meets to consider reports of the Standing Committees, make decisions on other municipal matters, adopt policies and pass by-laws.  Adoption of Standing Committee recommendations by Council is the third and final stage in the decision-making process.  This three-step process can take 6 to 8 weeks to complete from when a Sub-committee first considers an issue to the adoption of the Committee's recommendation by Council.  The regular Council meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber.  Regular Council meetings are open to the public.  Special Council meetings are held from time to time to consider matters of urgency.  These meetings are also open to the public.

The Planning Act requires that Council conduct public meetings to hear from the public with respect to planning applications, such as zone change applications, official plan amendment applications, and subdivision applications.  Public meetings may be held the same night as a regular Council meeting or on a different evening.  At such meetings, comments and questions from the public are heard regarding the planning application.

Council may, at their discretion, conduct public meetings on other issues of concern or importance.   For example, Council consulted with the public and stakeholders regarding proposed changes to the "Smoking in Public Places By-law".

To inquire about the Sub-committee, Standing Committee and Council meeting schedules and other meeting schedules, please contact the City Clerk's Office at
519-271-0250, ext. 237.  Meeting agendas are available at the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, the Friday before a Council meeting or from the website.

The CAO and Mayor's Offices, Corporate Services Department and Human Resources Department are located at City Hall, 1 Wellington Street.

The Building and Planning Department, Engineering Department and Social Services Department are located at City Hall Annex at 82 Erie Street.

Economic Development Department is located at 73 Albert Street.

Stratford Tourism Alliance Inc. is located at 47 Downie Street.

Community Services Department is located at 353 McCarthy Road.

The telephone number is 519-271-0250:
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