City Council Governance

City Council Governance

The Council of the City of Oshawa is made up of 1 Mayor, 7 Regional and City Councillors, and 3 City Councillors.

The Mayor is elected at large by electors throughout the City and heads the Council of the City of Oshawa.

The Mayor also represents the City on the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham.

Seven Regional and City Councillors are elected at large by electors throughout the City to represent the City on both the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham and the Council of the City of Oshawa.

Three City Councillors are elected at large by electors throughout the City to represent the City on the Council of the City of Oshawa.

City Council Governance after October 22, 2018 Municipal Election

Following the 2018 municipal election, the Council of the City of Oshawa will be made up of 1 Mayor, 5 Regional and City Councillors and 5 City Councillors.

The Mayor will be elected at large by electors throughout the City and heads the Council of the City of Oshawa.

The Mayor also represents the City on the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham.

There are five wards in the City of Oshawa which come into effect following the 2018 municipal election. For more information on the City's ward boundaries, click here.

The five Regional and City Councillors will be elected by ward to represent the City on both the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham and the Council of the City of Oshawa.  Five City Councillors will be elected by ward to represent the City on the Council of the City of Oshawa.

Accountability and Transparency Policy

The Accountability and Transparency Policy documents Council's commitment to a democratic process that is accountable, collaborative and transparent. It provides a framework through which Council and City staff will establish goals and strategies to maintain a responsible level of government which is accountable and transparent to the residents of Oshawa.

The Accountability and Transparency Policy can be read here.

Council Code of Conduct

The Council Code of Conduct (Code) outlines standards of ethical conduct for Members of Council and where applicable, the directors of the Downtown Oshawa Business Improvement Area Board of Management (BIA).  The Code addresses standards related to:

• Respectful behaviour;
• Conduct at meetings;
• Conduct respecting staff;
• Gifts and benefits;
• Confidential information;
• Use of property, services and resources of the City; and
• Improper use of influence.

The Code can be read here.

Council Code of Conduct Enforcement

Any person who believes that a Member of Council or a director of the BIA has contravened the Code can file a complaint with the City’s Integrity Commissioner for investigative services.  The Integrity Commissioner has the authority to:

• Refuse to investigate a complaint of an apparent breach of the Code, which in the Integrity Commissioner’s opinion is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process;

• Investigate a complaint of an apparent breach of the Code;

• Recommend a penalty to Council, being a reprimand or suspension of remuneration for a period of up to 90 days;
• Recommend a penalty to the BIA, being a reprimand;

• Recommend Council or the BIA take one of the following actions:

  • Removal from membership on a committee or local board;
  • Removal as chair or as vice-chair of a committee or local board;
  • Repayment or reimbursement of monies received;
  • Return of property or reimbursement of its value;
  • Request a public apology to Council or BIA, the complainant, or both; or
  • Any other or additional action deemed by Council or BIA to be appropriate, and which is within its power to take.

The Integrity Commissioner will report to Council on all complaints received.

Complaint Limitations

• If the Integrity Commissioner has not completed their investigation before nomination day in a regular election year, the investigation is terminated on that day.  In this scenario, the Integrity Commissioner cannot commence another investigation unless, within six (6) weeks after voting day, the complainant or Member of Council or director of the BIA in question requests in writing that the investigation commence; and,

• No complaint can be made between nomination day and voting day in a regular election year.

On or after March 1, 2019, the City's Integrity Commissioner for investigative services will also investigate apparent breaches by Members of Council and BIA directors of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Filing a Code Complaint

A Code complaint is filed directly with the Integrity Commissioner. 

 Please outline your complaint in writing and include any particulars of the alleged contravention.  Please include your name, address, email, telephone/cell number where you can be reached. 

Attention: Mr. Guy Giorno, Integrity Commissioner, City of Oshawa
c/o Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP
2400 - 333 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5H 2T6
integritycommissioner@fasken.com
(416) 366-8381
Toll-free: (877) 609-5685

Anonymous complaints are not accepted.