Speak or send comments to Council or Committee

Please check the meeting agenda

Everyone can participate in open meetings of City Council and the Committee of the Whole. You can send written comments or register to speak about items on the meeting agenda.

Registration is not required to participate in statutory public meetings about development applications such as Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan amendments. These items are noted on City Council agendas as ‘public meetings to hear applications under sections 17, 34 and 51 of the Planning Act’.

City Council and Committee workshops do not have delegations.

How to register to speak at a meeting

After you register, you will receive a confirmation message and instructions for participating in the meeting.

Groups and associations

Community groups and associations are encouraged to select a single person to speak on behalf of the group. Please let us know if you are appearing on behalf of a community group or association.

You cannot register multiple delegations and you cannot register on behalf of someone else.

How to send written comments

Please email [email protected] (attachments must not exceed 20 MB), or send comments by mail to:

City Clerk’s Office
City of Guelph
1 Carden Street
Guelph, ON N1H 3A1

If you require assistance submitting comments or registering to speak at a meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office:

519-822-1260 extension 5603
TTY 519-826-9771
[email protected]

Deadlines

After the agenda has been published you can register or provide written comments and/or presentation materials by 10 a.m. on the last business day of the week prior to the meeting. Any written comments or presentation materials will be distributed to Council and Committee members and published as part of the revised agenda on the Friday before the meeting.

Delegations are listed on the agenda in the order they are received.

Time limits for speakers

Please deliver your comments and/or presentation within the time limit:

  • five minutes for City Council and Committee of the Whole meetings
  • 10 minutes for public meetings to hear applications under sections 17, 34 and 51 of the Planning Act, such as Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan amendments.

Members of the committee or City Council may ask you questions after your presentation.

Guidelines for presentations and written comments

Presentations and written comments must not include statements or materials which are:

    • intended for the sole purpose of generating publicity
    • related to litigation or potential litigation or to any matter which is currently before any court or administrative tribunal affecting the City of Guelph
    • disrespectful toward City employees, members of City Council, committee, or any other member of the community
    • containing obscene or defamatory language, gestures or images
    • discussing any subject matter that is not noted on the agenda

Presentation materials must follow the Municipal Freedom of Information Privacy Protection Act (MFIPPA) and cannot include photos of identifiable individuals, license plates and/or names without the individual’s consent.

The Chair can expel any person who violates these expectations from the meeting.

Topics not included on a meeting agenda

To speak to City Council about a topic that is not part of an upcoming agenda, please write the City Clerk’s Office and include

  • a description of your concern
  • the action you would like City Council to consider

The City Clerk will check to see if the item can be considered on a future agenda, and contact you when a decision is made.

Topics presented without delegations or written comments

The Committee of the Whole or City Council may meet to discuss a notice of motion, bylaw, or have a workshop. These meetings may be open for the public to attend, but do not include delegations and written correspondence.

Recording and broadcasting City Council and committee meetings

All Committee of the Whole and City Council meetings are recorded and live-streamed on guelph.ca/live and the City’s social media page(s), and will be posted online. In addition, they may also be recorded and broadcasted on Rogers TV. You may be seen and/or heard as part of these broadcasts and your name, comments, and/or presentation materials will become part of the public record.

Collection of Personal Information

Personal information is being collected and will be used for the purposes of registering delegates and communicating with them about meetings, agenda matters and materials. Your information may be made public through the course of a meeting and corresponding agendas and minutes.

Personal information, as defined by Section 2 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001, and in accordance with the provisions of MFIPPA.

If you have questions about the collection, use or disclosure of this personal information please call 519-822-1260 extension 2349 or email [email protected].