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Public Participations
Deputations to Council are permitted under Section 14 of The District Municipality of Muskoka Procedure By-law, which reads as follows: "Persons desiring to make an oral presentation or make a request of Council shall give notice to the Clerk not less than (2) two business days before the commencement of the meeting of the Council and may be heard on leave* of the Council. Oral presentations shall be limited to not more than ten minutes except that a deputation consisting of more than five persons shall be limited to two speakers, each limited to speaking not more than ten minutes.
Explanatory Note: In order to not give one person or group an unfair advantage over another person or group, requests by persons or groups to appear as a deputation or delegation after a statutory public meeting has been held to speak to the matter that was the subject of the public meeting shall not be permitted. Such persons or groups may request further public meetings which may be held on the condition that the person or group, requesting the additional meeting pay such costs as Council deems appropriate. Written submissions shall be received in accordance with directions given by the Committee at the public meeting."
*Except for the following circumstances, permission (also known as “leave”) is required for individuals or groups to address Council or Committee as a deputation or delegation. This permission must be given by Council or Committee as the case may be prior to addressing Council or Committee. Permission or leave is given in the same way that Council and Committee makes many of their decisions which is by resolution.
Permission or leave is not required when the delegation/deputation is invited to appear (e.g. auditors, representatives of other governments, etc.). If the matter is ceremonial in nature (presentation of an award) then the Clerk can grant leave. Another instance where the Clerk may grant leave is when the item an individual or group wishes to address, is on the agenda for consideration at that meeting. The Clerk may, but is not obligated to, grant leave in these instances. If the Clerk decides not to exercise this discretion then the permission of Council or Committee must be obtained in the normal way as described above.
If you wish to appear as a delegation at a Committee or Council meeting, please advise the Clerk at least (2) two business days before the meeting.
Debbie Crowder
District Clerk
(705) 645-2100, Ext. 239
dcrowder@muskoka.on.ca
