The Town of Collingwood in Ontario has posted a public notice proposing revisions to Procedural By-law No. 2021-090, the rules that govern how local government meetings are run and how residents can participate. The notice was posted on February 10, 2026 and outlines proposed changes to public participation and transparency rules.
The proposed revisions address how residents pre-register to speak (delegations), deadlines and formats for submitting presentation materials, and the formalization of hybrid meeting protocols to allow participation either in person at Town Hall (97 Hurontario St) or online. The changes are being presented as a way to integrate and clarify roles under the province’s Strong Mayor framework while preserving Council’s traditional decision-making processes.
Town officials say the changes cover timelines for pre-registering as a delegation and the submission of digital presentation materials. Under the current Procedural By-law, pre-registered delegations are generally required to submit a request one week prior to a meeting and to provide presentation materials at the time of request; the notice proposes updates to those processes. The Procedural By-law also sets out rules for electronic participation; the Town’s proposal would standardize those arrangements for the remainder of the 2022–2026 Council term.
In remarks tied to the 2026 municipal budget and in New Year communications, Mayor Yvonne Hamlin has emphasized keeping residents engaged as Collingwood grows. The Town Clerk, Sara Almas, retains authority under the Procedural By-law to determine whether material constitutes “new information” for the purpose of permitting repeat deputations and to manage agenda content in accordance with the by-law.
A public engagement session on the proposed by-law changes is scheduled for February 12, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to use that session to provide feedback; the Town has indicated the revisions are expected to be implemented in April 2026, subject to the public process and any Council approvals. For the latest details and any updates to the schedule, see the Collingwood Council meeting portal and the Town’s public notices page.
