Fact sheet 3 : Municipal Decision Making: Guidance for Public Health

<jats:p>• This fact sheet is part of a collection on municipal governance in Canada, intended for public health organizations seeking to collaborate with municipalities. It examines the municipal decision making process and the respective roles of the municipal council and the municipal administration, to clarify when, how, and with whom to engage in order to influence decisions that support population health. • The municipal council makes the decisions, while the administration advises the council and implements those decisions. Although the administration does not hold formal decision-making power, it often exercises significant influence. • Municipal staff are generally a strategic entry point for public health organizations. • Committees of council—where they exist—offer another strategic entry point, as specialized bodies that issue recommendations before council votes. • It is important to tailor messages to the profile of the municipal actors being engaged. • Early engagement increases opportunities for influence, hence the importance of monitoring council agendas to identify emerging issues and collaborating with the administration as it prepares its recommendations.</jats:p>