City of Kingston launches public survey for feedback on Council roles

Stepping into public office means balancing community expectations, complex decisions and the day-to-day demands of governance. For municipal mayors and council members, these responsibilities have evolved over time, and so has the conversation about how to support them.  

Since 2008, the City has reviewed Council remuneration (the amount Council members are paid). This year, a working group is taking a fresh look at how elected officials are resourced, examining workload, administrative support and whether roles should remain part-time or shift to full-time. 

Applying an Indigenization, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IIDEA) lens, the review aims to remove barriers for equity-deserving groups and ensure public office is accessible to all within the current provincial regulations for municipal elections. 

Your input through a short survey on Get Involved Kingston will help guide recommendations for the next term of Council (2026–2030). The survey is open until Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Email GetInvolved@CityofKingston.ca or call 613-546-0000 for an alternate format.  

“We’re committed to keeping this process open and informed by the community," says Derek Ochej, Deputy City Clerk. "Feedback will help balance fairness, effectiveness and accessibility." 

Alongside the survey, working group members are connecting with Council members and support staff to understand real-world challenges, and analyzing data from comparator municipalities. This evidence-based approach ensures recommendations reflect both community input and best practices.  

After public engagement ends, the working group will finalize its recommendations and present them to Council by the end of Q1 2026.