The City of Thunder Bay is inviting residents to provide feedback on changes made to City Council’s governance structure earlier this year.

In July 2025, City Council approved a new model that replaced the former Committee of the Whole structure with three Standing Committees: Finance & Administration, Quality of Life, and Growth. The new model came into effect in September 2025.

The Standing Committee model has smaller groups of Councillors review reports, discuss issues in greater detail within specific focus areas, and make recommendations to City Council. As before, Council continues have the final debate and vote on all decisions.

The change was designed to streamline meetings, improve focus on key areas of City business, and make the decision-making process clearer for the public.

“Governance models aren’t something most residents think about day to day, but they play an important role in how effectively Council does its work,” said Krista Power, City Clerk. “The Standing Committee structure allows Council members to spend more time on specific subject areas, to help organize discussions more clearly, and to support more efficient meetings overall.” 

Public feedback previously helped inform the recommendations that led to the new structure. Now that it has been in place for several months, the City is seeking input on how it is functioning.

Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts on:

  • How the new structure is working
  • Whether it feels clear and understandable
  • How it could be improved

The survey is available at www.thunderbay.ca/getinvolved, and only takes a few minutes to complete. Feedback is welcome from all residents, whether they follow Council meetings regularly or only occasionally.

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Contact:            Krista Power, City Clerk, 807-625-2238