Mayor and Council

The current Mayor of Kawartha Lakes is Doug Elmslie.

The current Deputy Mayor of Kawartha Lakes is Ward 7 Councillor Charlie McDonald.

As a body, Council makes decisions to help ensure the services offered by the municipality meet the needs of the community. Council annually adopts the municipal budget to ensure the fiscal balance of the 
municipality, allocating appropriate resources and services to meet the needs of the community. Council also establishes and approves policy to guide municipal operations and administration, and establishes 
service levels.

Together they govern the municipality, deciding on by-laws and policies that deal with issues concerning 
the community and act as stewards for their ward and constituents. To ensure accountability and 
transparency, Council meetings are open to the public and live streamed on YouTube.

Kawartha Lakes was given Strong Mayor Powers in 2023; as such, the Mayor has additional duties and powers. More information about these powers, duties and decisions can be found on the Strong Mayor Powers, Duties, and Decisions page.

There is one Councillor elected for each of the 8 wards in Kawartha Lakes. To learn who your ward Councillor is, or to determine which ward you live in, check out our Kawartha Lakes ward boundaries page.

When you determine your ward, visit our Get to Know Your Council page. You will see a list of all the councillors, which committees they sit on, and how you can contact them. If you are unsure, reach out to the Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Council. 

Members of the public can access agendas and minutes for City Council, Planning Advisory Committee and Committee of Adjustment meetings. Subscribe to our Council and Committee Calendar to stay informed about these or other upcoming meeting dates.

For those who can't attend a meeting in person, all Regular City Council Meetings and Special Council Meetings are broadcasted live on YourTV (Cogeco Subscribers Channel 10, HD 700), and live-streamed on the City's Youtube page. More details are available on our Council Meetings and Committees page.

There are several ways to get involved in the processes at the municipal level.

You can request to speak before council by registering as a delegation and make a deputation. You can do this in person or electronically, making the process accessible to everyone. If you feel your message should be delivered through correspondence, residents and organizations can also submit letters to Council, to be included on an agenda.

If you are looking for a specific change, such as a new stop sign or crosswalk, please visit our Petitions page for details about the petition process.

To become more actively involved, you may wish to consider serving on one of our many Boards or Committees of Council. Most of these include members of the public, who offer their expertise and time, to help provide advice and recommendations to Council. There is something for everyone, from accessibility to waste management - see our Boards and Committees page for more details and current vacancies.

Council members and their activities are governed by the Municipal Act of Ontario; additionally, they adhere to a municipal code of conduct and oversight is provided more generally through the Integrity Commissioner. Councillors must also declare conflicts of interest whenever they arise. More information on these topics can be found on the Accountability and Transparency page.

Information regarding Council Remuneration can be found on our elections page, if you would like to learn more about the process of becoming an elected official.