What Does a Ward 5 Councillor Actually Do in Richmond Hill, Ontario?
City Hall Explained · By Yuliya Benedziktavich
When something needs attention on your street, such as a broken streetlight, speeding cars or a question about a nearby development, most of us know where to call. The harder part is what happens next. You call or write, and sometimes the reply is slow, or it doesn’t arrive at all.
To me, being a councillor is not a privilege. It is a big responsibility. If you reach out, you deserve a real answer, and someone who stays with your question until you know what happens next. Here is a simple guide to what a Richmond Hill councillor can do, where the job ends, and how a Ward 5 councillor can help.
In short: a Ward 5 councillor is one of six ward councillors on Richmond Hill City Council, which has nine members in all. Together with the mayor and the other councillors, they take part in decisions on by-laws, planning matters and changes to the City budget, and they help residents bring their concerns to City Hall.
What a Richmond Hill councillor does
Richmond Hill Council has nine members:
- the mayor,
- two Regional Councillors and
- six ward councillors, one for each ward.
Ontario’s Municipal Act gives council a clear job: to represent the public, to develop and evaluate the City’s policies and programs, and to make sure the City is run accountably and transparently.
In everyday life, the City describes the role like this: members of council are available for residents’ day-to-day concerns, attend official functions, and work with provincial and federal members of government, the school boards, Alectra Utilities and other agencies on the City’s behalf.
For residents, this can mean having someone to turn to when you have reported a problem and still need a clear answer. Council meetings and votes matter. So does taking the time to understand a concern and following up with the people who can address it.
How a councillor helps move things forward
A councillor has one vote on Council. They cannot approve a project, pass a by-law or spend City money on their own. City staff manage the day-to-day work, including road repairs, permits and by-law enforcement.
But a councillor can ask questions, bring a neighbourhood concern forward, request clearer information and work with colleagues on a response. For me, that would mean being honest about what I can influence, explaining the next steps and staying in touch as a concern moves through the process. When a neighbour brings me a problem, they deserve a real answer, not just a promise.
City, York Region or the Province? Who handles what
Richmond Hill is part of a two-tier system, so some services come from the City and others from York Region. Here is how York Region’s “Who Do I Call?” sheet divides them:
City of Richmond Hill:
- local roads,
- sidewalks and streetlights,
- snow clearing on local roads,
- parks and recreation,
- libraries,
- fire services,
- building permits,
- parking,
- garbage and green bin pick-up,
- and property taxes.
York Region:
- police services,
- paramedic services,
- public health,
- transit,
- regional roads (such as Bathurst Street, Major Mackenzie Drive and Highway 7),
- waste management,
- water and wastewater,
- housing and social assistance.
Others:
- school boards run the schools,
- Alectra Utilities delivers electricity, and
- the Province sets rules the City must follow, such as its goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031.
Blue box recycling is managed by Circular Materials. Since January 1, 2026, questions about missed collections or blue box replacements go to Miller Waste rather than the City. See the City’s garbage and recycling guide.
The mayor and the two Regional Councillors also sit on York Regional Council. Ward councillors sit on City Council.
If your concern belongs to York Region or another agency, a ward councillor can help you find the right contact and follow up where appropriate. Even when the decision sits elsewhere, you still deserve a clear explanation of what happens next.
Councillor and mayor: what are "strong mayor powers"?
Since July 1, 2023, Richmond Hill’s mayor has had “strong mayor powers” under the Municipal Act, and the City can’t opt out. The City Clerk explained the main points to Council on June 28, 2023:
The budget starts with the mayor.
The mayor proposes it by February 1. Council then normally has 30 days to amend it; Council can shorten this period. If council doesn’t, the mayor’s budget is considered adopted. The mayor can veto council’s amendments, and council can override that veto with a two-thirds vote.
The veto on by-laws is limited.
The mayor can veto a by-law only if it could interfere with a provincial priority, meaning housing and the infrastructure that supports it, such as transit, roads, utilities and servicing. Council can override a veto within 21 days with a two-thirds vote.
Some powers were passed to Council.
In July 2023, the mayor passed two powers to Council in writing: appointing the City Manager and creating committees. You can see these in the City’s Mayoral Decisions.
So a councillor still has real tools: 1) amending the budget, 2) voting on by-laws and 3) overriding a veto. Because the budget conversation begins with the mayor’s proposal, it helps when residents share their questions early. Rules like these can change, so check the City’s website for the latest.
How to reach your Richmond Hill councillor and the City
- Call the City at 905-771-8800 or email access@richmondhill.ca.
- Find your councillor on the City’s Mayor and Council page.
- Want to speak at a meeting? You can appear as a delegation at Council.
What you could expect from me
A question should not disappear after you ask it. As Ward 5 Councillor, I would answer you, tell you what I could do and what belongs to someone else, and keep you updated until you had a clear response.
Have you already reached out to the City and are still waiting? See how to report a problem in Richmond Hill and follow up. Tell me what happened and when you contacted them. You are welcome to write to me. Your story may also help me explain something that other neighbours have been wondering about.
You can read more about my priorities for Ward 5 and find practical voting information in the Richmond Hill voting guide. Online voting runs October 20 to 26, 2026; in-person voting is available October 24, 25 and 26. See our Richmond Hill voting locations map and opening hours, or the Ward 5 election guide: where to vote and what’s on your ballot.
What do you think?
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