About Local Government

The governing body of the City of Markham is municipal council. Markham City Council Council has 13 members (1 Mayor, 4 Regional Councillors and 8 Ward Councillors) and makes decisions, sets policies, directions and budgets for local services.

Those elected earn a seat on Markham Council for 4 years. The Mayor and 4 Regional Councillors are elected by the community to represent the City of Markham on the York Regional Council.

Here are some of the services provided by the City of Markham:

• Animal care
• Community events
• Heritage conservation
• Cultural and recreational programming
• Parking control
• Licensing
• Fire and emergency services
• Library services
• Garbage and recycling collection
• Local roads and sidewalks
• Parks and trails
• Planning of new neighbourhoods
• Building regulations
• Water and wastewater
• Economic development and small business help
• And more

Learn more about the City of Markham's services.

York Regional Council has 21 members (1 Regional Chair, 9 Mayors and 11 Regional Councillors). Regional Council sets policies, direction and budgets for York Region.

Members of York Regional Council are elected in what is known as a "double direct" form of election. In this type of system, those elected as Mayor or Regional Councillor for a local municipality earn a seat on both Municipal Council and Regional Council for 4 years.

Here are some of the services provided by York Region:

• Court services
• Paramedic services
• Family and children's services
• Housing
• Long-term care
• Planning and economic development
• Police services
• Public health
• Regional roads
• Social assistance
• Solid waste management
• Transit
• Water and wastewater
• And more

Learn more about York Region's services.

Mayor

• Elected by eligible voters across the City of Markham
• 1 position available
  
  

The role of the Mayor as the head of Council is to:

• Act as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Markham
• Provide information and make recommendations to Council with respect to Council’s role in ensuring that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of Council
• Ensuring the accountability and transparency of the operations of the City, including the activities of the senior management of the City
• Chair meetings of council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively
• Provide leadership to council
• Represent the City at official functions
• Carry out any other duties under the Municipal Act, 2001 or any other Act
  
  

The role of the Mayor as Chief Executive Officer is to:

• Uphold and promote the purposes of the City
• Promote public involvement in the City’s activities
• Act as the representative of the City both within and outside the City, and promote the City locally, nationally and internationally
• Participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well being of the City and its residents
  
  

The duties and powers of the Mayor include:

• Calling special meetings of Council
• Declaring that an emergency exists in the municipality, implementing an emergency plan and declaring when an emergency has ended
• Signing all bylaws, together with the City Clerk, passed at meetings at which the Mayor has presided
  
  

Regional Councillors

• Elected by eligible voters across the City of Markham
• 4 positions available
• Regional Councillor with highest number of votes in the Regional Councillor election is appointed Deputy Mayor
  
  

The role of a Regional Councillor is to:

• Represent the City of Markham at Regional Council

Learn more about the role of Regional Councillors.

The role of the Deputy Mayor is to:

• The role of the Deputy Mayor in Markham is outlined in Bylaw 2011-249 which states that in the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor will fulfill all obligations of the Mayor, set out in the:
• Municipal Act, 2001;
• Emergency Management & Civil Protection Act;
• Any other applicable legislation; and
• A Markham City Council resolution.
• While acting in place of the Mayor, the Member has all the powers & duties of the Mayor.
  
  

Ward Councillors

• Elected by eligible voters within a designated ward
• 8 positions available (1 from each ward)
  
  

The role of a Ward Councillor is to:

• Represent residents from a specific ward;
• Represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;
• Develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
• Determine which services the municipality provides;
• Maintain the financial integrity of the municipality;
• Ensure that administrative policies practices are in place to implement the decisions of council; and,
• Ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality.