Council's Roles and Duties

Council's core authorities and responsibilities are defined by the Municipal Act of Manitoba.  Below lists Council’s Role and the Duties of Council Members.

Council's Role

A council is responsible

(a) for developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality;

(b) for ensuring that the powers, duties and functions of the municipality are appropriately carried out; and

(c) for carrying out the powers, duties and functions expressly given to the council under the Municipal Act or any other Act.

General Duties of Members

Each member of a council has the following duties:

(a) to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality as a whole and to bring to the council's attention anything that would promote the well-being or interests of the municipality;

(b) to participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality;

(c) to participate in meetings of the council and of council committees and other bodies to which the member is appointed by the council;

(d) to keep in confidence a matter that is discussed at a meeting closed to the public under subsection 152(3) and that the committee decides to keep confidential until the matter is discussed at a meeting of the council or of a committee conducted in public;

(d.1) to comply with the code of conduct for members of council;

(e) to perform any other duty or function imposed on the member by the council or the Municipal Act or any other Act.

Duties of the Head of Council

In addition to performing the duties of a member of a council, the head of council has a duty

(a) to preside when in attendance at a council meeting, except where the procedures by-law or the Municipal Act or any other Act otherwise provides;

(b) to provide leadership and direction to the council; and

(c) to perform any other duty or function assigned to a head of council by the council or by the Municipal Act or any other Act.