Standing Committees

Standing Committees offer policy and operational recommendations to Council to aid in the decision-making process. The three main Standing Committees include all members of Council, with the Regional Chair as ex-officio member on all Committees.

Waterloo Region has three main Standing Committees that are solely comprised of the Members of Regional of Council:

Administration and Finance Committee

The Administration and Finance (A&F) Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on all matters of administrative and financial importance referred to it by Council and other areas within the organization, including:

Policies relating to borrowing and investments, risk management, financial reporting, purchasing, tax policy, grants and budgetary procedures
Policies relating to recruitment and staffing, employee relations and compensation, and training and development
Administrative and legal matters including facilities management, fleet maintenance, information technology services, corporate records and archives

Members: All members of Regional Council

Chair: Michael Harris

Vice Chair: Joe Nowak

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

Community and Health Services Committee

The Community and Health Services (C&HSS) Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on all areas within the Public Health and Paramedic Services and Community Services departments referred to it by Council and other areas within the organization, including:

Central Resources, Child and Family Health, Health Protection and Investigation, Infectious Diseases, Dental and Sexual Health, Healthy Living, Planning and Promotion
Emergency Medical Services, Epidemiology and Health Analysis
Social Services, Social Planning, Policy and Program Administration
Community Support Services, Social Housing, Seniors' Services, Children's Services and Employment and Income Support
Schneider Haus, Doon Heritage Crossroads, Waterloo Region Museum and the McDougall Cottage

Members: All members of Regional Council

Chair: Jim Erb

Vice Chair: Pam Wolf

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee

The Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development (SID) Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on all matters relating to planning issues and public works operated by the Region and other functions related to the Region's facilities, including:

The Region of Waterloo International Airport
Roads, transit and traffic, rapid transit
Water supply, waste water treatment
Residential waste management, industrial waste management
Planning issues such as the Regional Official Plan, transportation planning, planning and development matters and recommends approval of municipal official plan

Formerly known as Planning and Works (P&W)

Members: All members of Regional Council

Chair: Colleen James

Vice Chair: Doug Craig

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

The other Standing Committees have only select Councillors as members. These Committees are:

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of Regional programs by reviewing and directing the following:

Financial statement audit planning, including presentation from the external Auditor
Receipt of the annual Financial Statements and Management Letter
Approve the Internal Audit Plan
Review of individual Internal Audit reports
Review of Program Review reports
Monitor the progress of the performance of Tangible Capital Asset Accounting
Receive and initiate Special Audits

Members:

Chair and Vice Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee
Chair of the Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee
Chair of the Community and Health Services Committee
Regional Chair

Chair: Michael Harris

Vice Chair: Joe Nowak

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

Strategic Planning and Budget Committee

The Budget Committee discusses budget issues and concerns and approves the Regional budget annually.

Members: All members of Regional Council

Chair: Michael Harris

Vice Chair: Joe Nowak

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

Library Committee

The Library Committee is composed of the Regional Chair, the four Township Mayors, and one (1) non-voting community representative for each Township to represent the rural municipalities of the Region. Membership is meant to reflect the diversity of the Townships to encourage broad community participation and ensure that all citizens have an equitable opportunity for democratic engagement. Membership shall, as much as possible, reflect the diversity and demographics of the Townships in such areas as age, gender, language, geographic representation, race, and abilities.

The Committee reports to Regional Council which serves as the Library Board. The Committee is responsible for making recommendations to Council on:

Policy creation
Administrative organization
Delivery of library services to rural residents
Operational budgets for the 10 branch libraries

Chair: Natasha Salonen

Vice Chair: Sue Foxton

Terms of Reference

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

Licensing and Hearings Committee

The Licensing and Hearings (L&H) Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on all matters relating to consumer protection, public safety and nuisance control within the Region of Waterloo, including:

Region-wide licensing and inspections of taxis, limousines, second-hand shops, salvage yards and special transportation services
Recommending licensing approvals, revocations, suspensions and policy
Enforcing regulations under certain Provincial legislation and Regional by-laws, including Smoke Free Ontario Act, Retail Business Holidays Act, Highway Traffic Act (Red Light Camera) and Regional By-laws for Smoking, Landfill, Garbage Collection, Election Signs, Woodland Conservation, Outdoor Water Use and Pesticides

Chair: Sue Foxton

Vice Chair: Chantal Huinink

Contact: Regional Clerk's Office, 519-575-4400

For information on how to submit correspondence or to speak at a Council or Committee meeting, you can visit our Communicate with Council page.

City of Cambridge

City of Kitchener

City of Waterloo

Township of North Dumfries

Township of Wellesley

Township of Wilmot

Township of Woolwich