OPINION: Understand how councils operate

With Manitoba’s municipal elections approaching, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts and comments about one thing: Change. This is coming from every corner of the province.

“We need change.”

“It’s time for new people.”

“Things need to be done differently.”

And maybe some things do need to change. But before casting your ballot based solely on the promise of change, take some time to think about what change at the municipal level can actually look like.

Municipal government today is not the same as it was 30 plus years ago. Municipalities operate within legislation, regulations, financial requirements, policies and processes. In Manitoba, The Municipal Act establishes responsibilities for both council and administration.

And one distinction that I think is often misunderstood is the difference between governance and operations.

Council governs. Administration operates.

Council is responsible for developing and evaluating the municipality’s policies and programs and ensuring the municipality’s powers, duties and functions are appropriately carried out. Council sets priorities, makes policy decisions and ultimately determines the direction it wants the municipality to take.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the administrative head of the municipality. The CAO is responsible for implementing council’s policies and programs, advising and informing council about municipal operations and affairs, and managing and supervising municipal employees.

That distinction matters.

Individual councillors are not elected to manage employees or personally run the municipality’s day-to-day operations. Their role is to participate in governing the municipality and making decisions collectively as a council. Administration then carries out that direction within the legislation, policies, budget and authorities that apply.

So yes — the people sitting around the council table can change.

Priorities can change.

Budgets can change.

Policies can change.

The direction and vision for a community can change.

Those things matter.

But a new council cannot simply disregard legislation, eliminate required processes, ignore financial obligations or operate a municipality however it wants.

Sometimes what looks from the outside like unnecessary red tape, bureaucracy, overspending or “the municipality making things difficult” has a legislative, regulatory, financial, procedural or liability-related reason behind it.

That doesn’t mean residents shouldn’t ask questions.

They absolutely should.

Ask why something is done a certain way. Ask what alternatives were considered. Ask where your tax dollars are going. Ask candidates what they would prioritize differently. Ask what they believe council’s role should be.

And perhaps most importantly, ask how they intend to accomplish the changes they are promising within the actual authority and responsibilities of municipal council.

There is nothing wrong with wanting change. Change can be healthy and necessary.

But be careful believing that simply replacing the people around the table will miraculously make everything better.

Sometimes change really is needed.

And sometimes what is needed is a better understanding of why things are done the way they are, who is actually responsible for what, what council has the authority to change — and what it doesn’t.

Before you vote for “change,” take the time to understand what you want changed, why you want it changed, who actually has the authority to change it, and whether it can actually be changed.

An informed vote starts with understanding how your municipality actually works.

Courtney Kostesky is the CAO of the Municipality of Gilbert Plains.