On this page
The City of Guelph exists within the wider legislative, political, and economic context of the Province of Ontario and Canada as a whole. Building strong relationships with other levels of government and supporting intergovernmental collaboration is essential to advance the collective goals of the City of Guelph and its residents.
Provincial and Federal decisions, policies and programs often have real effects on the City’s residents, as well as on the City’s ability to provide services to the community. As such, advocacy is a key component of the City’s intergovernmental relations activities. The City’s Intergovernmental Services team supports the Mayor, City Council and the City’s Executive Team in advocating for the City’s needs and creating opportunities for intergovernmental dialogue and collaboration on key issues:
Participation in municipal associations
Municipal associations leverage the knowledge and expertise of municipal staff and elected leaders to collectively advocate for the needs of municipalities. Council and staff collaborate with various municipal associations – including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) – to advance shared priorities and influence change at the Provincial and Federal levels of government.
The annual conference held by AMO is a major component of the City’s advocacy work. It presents an opportunity for members of City Council and senior staff to meet directly with provincial government leaders to discuss critical issues and opportunities, and influence change in our community. The City’s AMO webpage presents the key issues and calls to action that were raised in front of provincial leaders at past AMO conferences.
Policy consultations
Federal and Provincial public policy consultations are an important way for the City to provide detailed feedback on proposed legislative and regulatory changes. The City prepares and submits detailed comments where the proposed legislation may have impacts on the City and our community.
Through policy consultations, the City is able to offer a Guelph specific perspective to improve the outcomes for the community. This helps communicate the City’s needs to decision makers in other levels of government and build stronger working relationships.
Responses to policy consultations are posted on the City website as part of the Information Items for City Council.
Pre-budget submissions
As part of the annual budget development process both the Federal and Provincial governments conduct pre-budget consultations, seeking feedback on the key priorities and issues for the coming year. The City of Guelph uses this opportunity to provide input on the high-level funding and policy needs that are important to the City.