What is Involved in being on Municipal Council?

As a Councillor, you have representative, policy-making and stewardship roles to play in your municipality. Often these roles will overlap. You will be called on to consider and make decisions on issues that will sometimes be complex and controversial. Most of those decisions will have long-term consequences for your municipality that extend beyond your four-year term of office, and should be made in the context of your municipality’s directions for the long-term health and welfare of your community. 

Time-Commitment

The time commitment can be significant. In addition to one Council and one Committee of the Whole meeting per month, there are often additional public meeting and Special Council meetings scheduled throughout the year. Additionally, all members of Council are appointed to Committees of Council, which often meet monthly. Council members are also expected to attend special events held by the Township and other municipal stakeholders. There may be a considerable time spent talking with and responding to the residents. The amount of time required to prepare for a Council or committee meeting can be several hours per week due to the number of lengthy reports to be read in advance. Council also appoints members to external organizations. If appointed to an external organization, meeting dates, times and locations will vary. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also sit on Simcoe County Council.

Meetings

Currently, Council meetings take place in-person at 7:00 p.m. on the 4^th Wednesday of each month and Committee of the Whole meetings take place virtually at 9:00 a.m. on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month. Committees of Council meet at various times either in-person or virtually each month.

Remuneration

For the 2026-2030 Council Term, Members are provided with an annual base salary based on position. The annual base salary is provided to members to compensate for the work of the member in order to discharge the official duties including but not limited to attendance at meetings, optional special events, engagements, functions; constituent meetings; and invited attendee meetings.

The annual base salary for 2026-2030:

• Mayor: $50,166
• Deputy Mayor: $38,795
• Councillor: $32,568

**The Mayor will also sit on Simcoe County Council and is provided additional compensation from the County. 

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For more information about filing your candidacy in the 2026 Municipal Election, head to our Candidate Portal!

2022 Municipal and School Board Election Results

• Township of Tay Certificate of Election Results 2022
• To view the official school board trustee results please visit the City of Barrie website. 

About the 2022 Election

In 2022, voters in the Township of Tay cast their vote in the municipal election from the comfort of their own home or from anywhere at which they could access the internet or telephone.

In addition to internet and telephone voting, the Township offered a Voter Assistance Kiosk at the Municipal Office during regular business hours from October 11 to Election Day. In addition to the Voter Assistance Kiosk two advance votes were held Saturday October 15 and Saturday October 22, at the Municipal Office.

For those who elected to cast their vote in-person, either by paper ballot or electronically, a Voter Assistance Centre was provided at the Municipal Office on Election Day, Monday October 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The official list of candidates has been certified by the Clerk per the Municipal Elections Act

• Declaration of Acclamation to Office - Council 

Offices Elected by Acclamation

Offices elected by acclamation are as follows: Term of Council November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026.

• Mayor Ted Walker
• Deputy Mayor Barry Norris
• Councillor Sylvia Bumstead
• Councillor Gerard La Chapelle
• Councillor Judy Larmand
• Councillor Paul Raymond
• Councillor Sandy Talbot
• English Language Separate School Board Trustee Michael D'Amelio
• French Language Separate School Board Trustee Claire Thibideau

Eligible Tay voters voted on the following School Board Trustee positions:

• English Language Public School Board Trustee 
• French Language Public School Board Trustee 

Election Accessibility 

It's important that all eligible voters are able to cast a ballot during the election. We're committed to implementing procedures in 2022 to ensure all eligible voters may vote, regardless of their ability.

Election Accessibility Plan

Candidate Financial Statements

• Mayor
  • Mayor Ted Walker
• Deputy Mayor
  • Barry Norris
  • Jeff Bumstead *Nomination Withdrawn
• Councillors
  • Sylvia Bumstead
  • Gerard La Chapelle
  • Judy Larmand
  • Paul Raymond
  • Sandy Talbot

Joint Compliance Audit Committee

The County of Simcoe has formed a Joint Compliance Audit Committee (CAC) with local municipalities as required under the Municipal Elections Act. The participating municipalities in the Joint CAC are the Townships of Clearview, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Severn, Springwater, Tay, and Tiny, the Towns of Collingwood, and Midland, and the City of Orillia. The committee members were all appointed by by-law in each participating municipality.

The Joint Compliance Audit Committee is a public process and the Committee is responsible for reviewing compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or third party advertiser has contravened the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act relating to campaign or advertising finances.

All financial statements submitted by candidates and registered third party advertisers are available on this page under "2022 Candidate Financial Statements." An individual who is an eligible elector in the Township of Tay is able to submit an application to the Joint Compliance Audit Committee if the individual believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or registered third party advertiser (TPA) has contravened a section of the Municipal Elections Act only as it pertains to election campaign finances. An application may be filed to the Committee, even if a candidate has not filed their financial statements.

The County of Simcoe Clerk will facilitate the compliance audit process. Within ten (10) days of the municipal clerk receiving the application, it will be provided to the Joint CAC members. All reasonable notice of meetings to the public, candidate or TPA, and applicant will be provided.

Questions regarding this process can be directed to the Township Clerk. 

Application for a Compliance Audit - Making an Application

• Applicant must be an eligible elector in the Township of Tay or another of the above-noted municipalities.
• Have reasonable grounds to contest a candidate’s or TPA’s campaign finances.
• Complete the Application for a Compliance Audit form.
• Submit application to Township of Tay Clerk by the deadline.