Municipal Election Nominations Open May 1

The campaign period for the municipal election on October 26 begins May 1 with the opening of the nomination period to file to run as a candidate for City Council or school board trustee. 

file photo.

Candidate guides and required forms are now available on the City website.  

The Municipal Candidate Guide includes information on:  

• nomination procedures  

• election sign guidelines  

• campaign expense limits  

• ward boundary maps  

• mandatory submission forms  

In addition to the City’s Municipal Candidate Guide, the Government of Ontario provides a 2026 Candidates’ Guide for municipal council and school board elections. The guide includes general information on nominations, campaigning, third-party advertising and campaign finance. 

To file for office, candidates must submit a completed nomination form, an applicable filing fee of $200 for mayoral candidates and $100 for councillor or school board trustee candidates, and endorsement signatures from at least 25 eligible electors in the municipality. An elector is a person who is eligible to vote in the City of Peterborough. Electors may endorse more than one candidate. The endorsement requirement does not apply to school board trustee candidates.  

In the City of Peterborough, positions for election are Mayor and two ward Councillors for each of the five wards (Otonabee, Monaghan, Town, Ashburnham and Northcrest) for City Council, as well as trustee positions for the following school boards: 

• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board  

• Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board  

• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir  

• Conseil scolaire Viamonde  

The nomination period will run until Nomination Day on August 21 at 2 p.m.  

Nomination filings are accepted by appointment through the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall (500 George St. N.) To schedule an appointment, email or call (ext. 1619.) Valid photo ID showing proof of qualifying address in the City of Peterborough is required.  

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City of Peterborough To Host Candidate 101 Information Session For Those Interested in Running For Municipal Council

Members of the community interested in running for Municipal Council or learning more about local government are invited to attend an information session outlining the roles and responsibilities of council members on March 31. 

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

The information session is designed for anyone thinking about running for Council, as well as their spouses or partners, and anyone interested in learning more about the roles and responsibilities of municipal council members. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions, meet others and learn about the expectations and realities of public office. 

The event will be led by Nigel Bellchamber, an experienced municipal governance trainer who has worked with elected officials and senior staff across Ontario since 2002. Bellchamber provides practical guidance on governance and leadership in municipal government. 

The Candidate 101 Information Session will be held at 7 p.m. at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St.)

The 2026 municipal election will be held on October 26.

Reserve your spot by registering online. 

The nomination period when papers may be submitted to become a candidate runs from May 1 until August 21 at 2 p.m., in accordance with provincial legislation. Additional information about eligibility requirements, nomination forms and key election dates is available online. 

If you are a resident, owner or tenant of property in the City of Peterborough, a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age, you are eligible to vote. 

Students living in Peterborough while attending school can vote in the Peterborough municipal election as well as in their home municipality. 

If you are experiencing homelessness, or do not have a permanent home or a fixed address, you can still vote. 

To ensure you are on the voters list, visit the website.

Visit the interactive What's My Ward map to determine which ward you reside in. 

The information session is hosted by the City of Peterborough and townships in Peterborough County, including the Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Township of Cavan Monaghan, Township of Douro-Dummer, Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Township of North Kawartha, Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of Selwyn and the Municipality of Trent Lakes.

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City Council Endorses Robinson Street Reconstruction Funding After Prior Project's Completed Under Budget

City Council endorsed transferring funding from the recently completed Brealey Drive project, which was completed under budget, to help fund the Robinson Street infrastructure project during their meeting on Monday night.

Google Maps Screenshot.

The Robinson Street project could start construction this year if funded.

The Brealey Drive reconstruction project from Lansdowne Street West to Sherbrooke Street has been completed under budget with an estimated surplus of almost $2.9 million. According to the City, Council will consider transferring $2.6 million to the Robinson Street infrastructure project.

It includes installing concrete curbs and gutters, sidewalks, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, a new pavement structure, stormwater management infrastructure, and landscaping. The work will also include a pedestrian crossing at the Rotary Trail and Robinson Street.

The following are the funding allocation proposals from the Brealey Drive project to be transferred to Robinson Street:

• $1,250,000 of Wastewater Reserve funding

• $1,350,000 of Canada Community-Building Fund funding

The Robinson Street Reconstruction project was deferred from 2026 to 2027 as part of the 2026 budget process.

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City Council Approves Procedure By-law Update

Council approved a new Procedure By-law, developed in consultation with the Procedure By-law Working Group, to govern Council meetings during their Monday night meeting.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The revisions in the proposed Procedure By-law focus on improving clarity, aligning with current legislative requirements and supporting efficient and transparent meeting processes according to Council.

It is customary during each term of Council to consider amendments to the current Procedure By-law. The Procedure By-law Working Group, comprising the Mayor, the Chair of the General Committee, the Chair of the Planning Committee, the CAO, the Commissioner of Legislative Services, the City Clerk, and the Deputy Clerk, met on several occasions to discuss procedural considerations. The Ombudsman’s Office was consulted and a review was undertaken of best practices from municipalities including Caledon, Cambridge, Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Pickering, Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, Whitby and Windsor.

The Procedure By-law updates certain aspects of how Council governs its meetings, such as the following examples:

• The authority and duties of the Chair in maintaining order, decorum and the effective conduct of meetings;

• Restricting the use of electronic devices during meetings to support transparency and uphold the statutory open meetings requirements;

• Aurally recording Council's closed session meetings, with the recordings kept confidential in accordance with legislative requirements;

• Using a consent agenda process for Council's closed session meetings, with Council having the option to approve reports through one motion prior to going into closed session and only matters not included as part of the consent agenda will be considered during the closed meeting;

• Requiring that notices of motion be introduced at Committee meetings, not at a regular Council meeting, to follow a two-step approval process;

• Setting a limit of four delegations per agenda item at a Council meeting to support efficient agenda management, with the delegations limit not applying to delegations heard as part of a statutory public meeting under the Planning Act or applicable legislation;

• Setting a limit of two questions per Council member for questions on delegations, with the question specifically related to the content of the delegation and the response to the question from the delegate not to exceed 90 seconds - this change was amended during Council's General Committee consideration of the proposed by-law to increase the limit to two questions from one question;

• When a motion to amend or a motion to defer a recommendation from City staff report is presented, the Chair of the meeting will ask staff to provide information on any implications on the amendment or deferral to ensure Council has the complete and accurate information prior to making a decision;

• A majority vote is sufficient for a Motion to Reconsider where the original matter was not decided by
  Council, or where it was decided by Council during a previous term of Council;

• A two-thirds vote will be required to pass a Motion to Reconsider where the original matter was decided by Council within the current term of Council; and

• To support efficient and orderly debate, it is proposed that Members be permitted to speak to a Motion no more than twice, with each speaking opportunity limited to five minutes during General Committee meetings and a maximum of three minutes during Council meetings.

Council amended the direction on the maximum number of delegations from the original recommendation to set a limit of 10 at a Council meeting, except for statutory public meetings under the Planning Act or other applicable legislation, where the limit does not apply. Council changed the limit to four delegations per agenda item at a Council meeting, except for statutory public meetings under the Planning Act or applicable legislation, when the limit will not apply.

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City of Peterborough Issues Efficiency and Effectiveness Review for Request of Proposals

An Effectiveness and Efficiency Review of the City of Peterborough’s municipal operations and service delivery will be presented and considered by Council, ensuring the City is well positioned to meet the needs of the community.

File photo.

The City issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the independent review on Dec. 19, with a bid closing date of Jan. 21. The review will begin in April after the contract is awarded.

Municipalities across Ontario are facing growing fiscal pressures driven by inflation, aging infrastructure, climate impacts and a provincial-municipal funding framework that puts an unrealistic burden on property taxpayers, stated Mayor Jeff Leal.

“The current Canada-Ontario-Municipal fiscal framework is putting undue pressure on property taxpayers, particularly in the fields of housing and quasi-health services,” Leal said. “We need to do what we can for our property taxpayers within the constraints that are imposed on us. The independent review will examine how City services are delivered, how resources are allocated, and where opportunities exist to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability, while maintaining service quality for residents.

The review will assess service levels, organizational structure, staffing models and service delivery approaches, and will benchmark Peterborough against comparable Ontario municipalities.

It will be the City’s first independent, comprehensive effectiveness and efficiency review.

The Effectiveness and Efficiency Review will consider whether services continue to meet the public interest, whether the City is the appropriate service provider, and whether alternative or innovative service delivery models could improve outcomes or reduce costs.

City Council has supported Chief Administrative Officer Jasbir Raina’s recommendation for the City to undertake this Effectiveness and Efficiency Review, said Councillor Andrew Beamer.

“As a mid-sized city with a limited non-residential tax base, Peterborough faces many of the same challenges as municipalities across Ontario including rising costs, the need to replace or renew infrastructure, and constrained financial flexibility,” Beamer said. “This review will give Council a clearer understanding of where efficiencies can be achieved, how service levels compare to peer municipalities and how we can continue to deliver value for residents while maintaining responsible and sustainable budgets.”

“This work will provide Council with a clear, independent assessment of how we deliver services and how we can continue to improve,” said Raina. “It will help ensure the City has the right systems, structures and resources in place to respond to changing community needs, manage risk and strengthen operational performance over the long term.

The request for proposals to undertake the review is posted on the City’s bidding portal.

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City of Peterborough Adopts 2026 Budget

The City of Peterborough’s 2026 Budget was adopted during a City Council meeting Monday, setting a financial plan to maintain current service levels and continue investments in municipal infrastructure.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

To help reduce the property tax increase next year, Council supported using an additional $3 million from the Legacy Fund Income Retention reserve account, a reserve fund that holds revenue or interest earned on investments made using the proceeds of the sale of assets of Peterborough Distribution Inc. Council has identified the Legacy Fund Income reserve as a way to reduce the tax increase and recommended several other changes during its budget deliberation meetings in November. The $3 million injection reduced the tax requirement in the 2026 Budget by 1.32 per cent.

The City’s 2026 Budget reflects an operating budget increase of 2.11 per cent, a 2.16 per cent increase for infrastructure and capital needs, a 0.53 per cent increase in the sanitary sewer fee and a 1.76 per cent increase related to external agencies that the City funds.

The 6.56 per cent all-inclusive rate increase, including the municipal, education, and sanitary sewer surcharge rates, amounts to about $28.31 per month for the median residential property.

“Thanks to all residents who called, emailed and spoke to City Council to provide their perspectives on the budget,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Everyone’s input is incredibly helpful to meet our service requirements and ensure that our capital investment is sufficient to repair, rebuild and renew Peterborough’s capital infrastructure.”

The 2026 Budget includes $453.9 million in municipal services spending and $139.2 million in capital investments. The $453.9 million is funded by $255.5 million in revenue from non-municipal property tax sources, including user fees, grants from other governments, recoveries, interest on investments and service charges, resulting in a tax requirement of $198.4 million.

Capital projects include the police station renovation and expansion, the Lansdowne Street West between Spillsbury Drive and Clonsilla Avenue, the Wastewater Treatment Plant revitalization, the extension of a taxiway at the Peterborough Regional Airport, road paving, the purchase of transit buses and water service distribution infrastructure.

A breakdown of the municipal tax dollars:

• 25.9 per cent - outside/external organizations, such as police, paramedics, and public health

• 23.9 per cent - Community Services, such as social services, housing, fire services, parks, cultural services, the library, the museum and the art gallery

• 18.2 per cent - Municipal Operations, such as public works, winter control, transit and the airport

• 16.5 per cent - financial services, which includes financing costs for major infrastructure projects

• 6.1 per cent - Finance and Corporate Support Services, which includes the City’s finance administration, emergency management, communications and facilities management

• 5.4 per cent - Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management, which includes services such as engineering, managing major infrastructure projects, processing planning and building permit applications, physician recruitment and economic development

• 2.2 per cent - Legislative Services, such as the Clerk’s Office, legal services, real estate transactions, the Provincial Offences Act office and by-law enforcement

• 1.4 per cent - Chief Administrative Officer’s office, which includes the City’s People and Culture Division

• 0.4 per cent - City Council

Council made various changes or directions related to the Draft 2026 Budget, such as:

• Reducing the proposed employee benefits cost requirement by $665,000 from what was included in the draft budget documents

• On Nov. 3, Council awarded RFP48-25 for shelter services and daytime drop-in program to One City, which added $1.12 million to the Draft 2026 Budget

• Increasing the net tax levy by $90,137 in 2026 for the Community Development Program to offset a reduced funding from Peterborough County

• Reducing the net tax levy requirement by $204,477 to reflect the increased final current value assessments from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

• Deferring until 2027 consideration of a $900,000 project for a public washroom at Jackson Park

• Deferring $25,000 that had been requested to convert a washroom space into a kitchenette at City Hall

• Deferring until 2027 consideration of a $375,000 budget for the Coldsprings Growth Area – Planning Studies

• Extending the Community Service Agreement with Electric City Culture Council (EC3) for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 2026, including $100,000 for EC3 operations plus $50,000 for EC3 to provide Artsweek and the Individual Artists program, as well as increasing the funding by an additional $25,000 toward the Individual Artists program

• Increasing funding for the Peterborough Public Library collections acquisition by an additional $32,000 funded from the Library Materials Acquisition Reserve

Information on the 2026 Budget is available online. Residents can use the interactive OpenBook tool that is available on the website to view budget information in visual, accessible and easy-to-understand formats with charts, tables and graphs.

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City Hall Council Chambers Open House On Feb. 25

The public are invited to drop in for conversations and light refreshments with Mayor Jeff Leal and City Councillors at an Open House in the Council Chambers at City Hall from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

“We want to provide another way for residents to visit City Hall, to see the Council Chambers, and to speak with their Council members outside of the typical formal meetings that usually bring us together,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Join us for coffee, tea or juice and local baked goods. This is going to be another huge year for moving projects forward, renewing infrastructure, and delivering critical services. Let’s talk about our community and how we can build a better tomorrow, together.”

The Council Chambers are on the second floor of City Hallwhich can be accessed through the main doors and taking either the central staircase or the adjacent elevator to the second floor. Refreshments will be available in the City Boardroom next to the Council Chambers.

Free public parking is available in the City Hall parking lot when visiting City Hall and on-street parking is permitted in front of City Hall on George Street. 

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Peterborough Homeowners Staring Down a 9.59% Property Tax Hike in 2024

While inflation has taken its toll on household budgets, it’s also hammering the financial books of the city of Peterborough.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Earlier this week, city staff released the draft 2024 budget. As a result of growing costs, the document proposes an all-inclusive property tax increase of 9.59 per cent in 2024.

So, what does that mean for the average homeowner?

The proposed increase would see your annual property tax bill grow by $167.17 per $100,000 of residential property assessment.

Or, if your property is assessed at $260,000, you would pay an extra $434.61 on your yearly tax bill.

To figure out what the proposal means for you, the city of Peterborough has a tool to help.

Where is the money being spent?

Proposed operating expenses for the city in 2024 will be $359 million ($173.9 million of that will be paid through property taxes).

Proposed capital costs will come in at $128.2 million.

The departments and agencies proposing to spend the most tax dollars include police, the fire department, social services, transit, public works, parks and recreation, and paramedics. Another large expense is capital financing costs.

The entire document is available to view HERE.

What’s causing the increase?

There are a number of reasons for the increase. However, general inflationary pressures are a big reason why.

However, other factors for the rise in costs include:

- Upgrading transit service

- Improving customer service

- Strengthening municipal law enforcement

- Rising policing costs

- Increased insurance costs

What could be cut?

Lowering the proposed increase by 1% would require $1.9 million in reductions. City staff have laid out a laundry list of possible cuts across a variety of departments.

Some of the larger potential areas to save money include (savings in brackets):

- Cancel downtown street surface repair program ($2.3 million)

- Defer traffic calming program ($700,000)

- Defer Towerhill Link Environmental Assessment ($600,000)

- Cancel Service Enhancement Plan ($530,000)

- Defer various new sidewalk installations ($500,000)

- Defer hiring four municipal law enforcement officers ($305,305)  and purchasing two security vehicles ($200,000)

- Full cost recovery of planning applications ($300,000)

- Cut statutory holiday transit service ($190,000)

- Close directly operated child care ($150,000)

- Increase transit fees ($100,000)

Planned Capital Projects

There are 147 capital projects proposed to begin (or be completed) in 2024. The projects come in at a cost of $128.2 million.

Some of those projects include:

- New arena and aquatics complex

- Brealey Drive construction from Lansdowne Street to Sherbrooke Street

- Pavement preservation program

- Lansdowne Street rehabilitation from Park Street to Otonabee River

- Charlotte Street upgrades from Water Street to Park Street

- Transit Garage replacement

- Curtis Creek watershed improvements

- Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment Project

- Downtown street resurface repairs

How to get involved

Nov. 9: Public meeting, brief presentation and opportunity to ask questions, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St.

Nov. 14: Informal drop-in from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the main foyer, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

Nov. 14: Finance committee will hear from registered delegations, starting at 6 p.m., at City Hall, 500 George St. N. Register at peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820

Nov. 15: Finance committee meeting with outside boards and agencies, but no public delegations. Takes place at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

Nov. 20 to 23: Finance committee reviews and debates draft budget, but no public delegations.

Dec. 11: Council votes final budget. Registered delegations can present beforehand. Takes place at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

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City Council Appoints David Potts As New Commissioner of Legislative Services

City Council has appointed David Potts as the new Commissioner of Legislative Services for the City of Peterborough, effective immediately.

Potts holds a law degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from Western University. He is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist, Municipal Law (Local Government). Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The announcement was made at the City Council’s meeting on Monday.

Potts also serves as the City Solicitor for the City of Peterborough, a position he has held since June 2018. Before joining the City of Peterborough, Potts was the City of Oshawa’s legal counsel for 19 years, including 17 years as its City Solicitor.

As the Commissioner of Legislative Services, Potts leads a department that includes Legal Services, the City’s Clerk’s Office, Court Services, Municipal Law Enforcement Services, and Realty Services.

Council has expressed its vision to enhance the delivery of the critical functions within the Legislative Services Department, including bylaw enforcement, to meet the community's needs better moving forward according to Mayor Jeff Leal.

“Dave has the experience and knowledge to lead the department through this exciting period of change,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working with Dave in this senior leadership role and use his knowledge and vast experience in our exciting journey to make the City of Peterborough a future-ready City,” said Jasbir Raina, Chief Administrative Officer.

Legislative Services is a new department for the City of Peterborough, which was created as part of a recent reorganization to position the City to be future-ready, realigning existing divisions, services and programs within the administrative structure of the City of Peterborough according to a press release.

Potts has served as the acting Commissioner of Legislative Services since the department was created on Oct. 2.

As the community positions itself for growth and progress, it will be critical that the City learns from the experiences of other municipalities while simultaneously implementing services in a way that considers the local context for Peterborough, Potts said.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the City’s talented, dedicated group of professionals in my new role as we implement Council’s vision as expressed through its Strategic Plan: Peterborough 2050,” he said. '“I’m grateful to Council and my staff colleagues for this additional opportunity to serve my hometown.”

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City Council Amends By-Law To Allow Tenting On Wolfe Street Municipal Parking Lot

After a City Council meeting on Aug. 5, the City of Peterborough’s Parks and Facilities by-law and Trespass by-law has been temporarily amended to temporarily allow tenting on the Wolfe Street municipal parking lot.

There are beds available within the City’s shelter system which includes 106 beds at four emergency shelters. Last week, there was an average of 40 beds available each night including 27 each night at the overflow shelter bed program. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The lot is at the southeast corner of Aylmer and Wolfe Street where construction of a new Modular Bridge Housing community on the nearby Rehill Parking Lot is occurring.

Allowing tenting on the secondary parking lot at Aylmer and Wolfe Streets helps create a clear, safe work site for the construction of the Modular Bridge Housing community that will include 50 individual units for people experiencing homelessness according to the City.

Tenting remains prohibited on all other City properties, except Beavermead Campground when permitted.

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