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ZENA AL‑MUDARISOAKVILLE · WARD 2

LEARN

What does a Ward 2 councillor
actually do?

Zena Al‑Mudaris is running for Town and Regional Councillor in Ward 2. That one seat comes with two jobs: a vote on Oakville Town Council and a vote on Halton Regional Council. Here is what each council decides, what neither of them controls, and who to call for what.

TWO COUNCILLORS PER WARD

One ward, two seats on your ballot.

Each of Oakville’s seven wards elects two councillors. The Town Councillor sits on Oakville Town Council only. The Town and Regional Councillor sits on Oakville Town Council and also on Halton Regional Council. Together with the Mayor, the 14 ward councillors make up the 15 members of Town Council.

Halton Regional Council brings together members from Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. In the 2023–2026 term it has 24 members, and Oakville holds 8 of those seats: the Mayor and the seven Town and Regional Councillors. For the 2026–2030 term, the Regional Chair is appointed by Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing under the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, and is not on the ballot.

THE JOB, BY LAW

What council is responsible for.

Ontario’s Municipal Act, 2001 sets out the role of a municipal council. The same duties apply at Town Council and at Regional Council. In plain terms, council is expected to:

  • Represent residents and weigh the well-being of the whole community, not only one street or ward.
  • Set and review the policies and programs the municipality runs.
  • Decide which services the municipality provides, and at what level.
  • Make sure staff have sound administrative and financial controls to carry out council decisions.
  • Hold the organization accountable and keep its work transparent, including oversight of senior management.
  • Protect the municipality's long-term finances.

TOWN OF OAKVILLE

What Town Council decides

Both Ward 2 councillors vote on these.

  • Planning and zoning What can be built where, Official Plan changes, and conditions on development applications.
  • The Town budget Town spending and the Town's share of your property tax bill. In Oakville the Mayor proposes the budget and Council can amend it.
  • Local roads and sidewalks Maintenance, snow clearing on Town roads, traffic calming, and street design.
  • Oakville Transit Routes, service levels, and fares.
  • Parks, recreation and culture Community centres, pools, arenas, trails, and arts programs.
  • Town by-laws Local rules on matters such as noise, property standards, signs, parking, and tree protection.
  • Fire services Oakville Fire Department stations, fire prevention, and emergency response, guided by the Town's Fire Master Plan.
  • Heritage Designating and protecting heritage buildings and districts.
  • Local stormwater Storm sewers, drainage, and stormwater ponds. The Town approved a dedicated stormwater fee in 2025, phased in from 2026.
  • Oakville Public Library Council appoints the Library Board and approves library funding. The board, set up under Ontario's Public Libraries Act, runs the library.

HALTON REGION

What Regional Council decides

Only the Town and Regional Councillor, and the Mayor, vote on these for Oakville.

  • Water and wastewater Drinking water, sewers, treatment plants, and the water and wastewater rates on your bill.
  • Waste collection Garbage, Green Cart, leaf and yard waste, and bulk pickup. Since January 1, 2026, the Blue Box program is run by Circular Materials Ontario under provincial producer-responsibility rules, not by the Region.
  • Regional roads The major arterial roads that Halton Region owns.
  • Public health and paramedics Halton Region Public Health programs and ambulance service.
  • Social services Ontario Works financial assistance, child care fee subsidies, and children's services.
  • Housing and homelessness Assisted (rent-geared-to-income) housing, the Halton Community Housing Corporation, and emergency shelter and homelessness prevention.
  • Long-term care Three Regional long-term care homes, including Post Inn Village in Oakville, plus other services for older adults.
  • The Regional budget The Region's share of your property tax, and Regional development charges.
  • Police funding Regional Council approves the overall Halton Regional Police Service budget after the Halton Police Board submits it. The board is a separate, provincially mandated body that governs the police service, and council does not direct police operations.

LIMITS OF THE ROLE

What a councillor cannot decide.

Municipalities can only do what Ontario law allows them to do. A councillor can raise these issues, advocate, and connect you with the right office, but council does not decide them.

  • One vote among many. A councillor has one vote. Town Council has 15 members and Regional Council currently has 24, so decisions need majority support.
  • No direct control of staff. Under the Municipal Act, staff carry out the decisions of council. An individual councillor can ask questions and raise issues, but cannot direct staff on their own.
  • Only the powers Ontario gives. Municipalities are created by provincial law. Council can only act within the Municipal Act, 2001 and other Ontario laws, and the Province can change those rules.
  • The Mayor and Chair have extra powers. Oakville's Mayor holds provincial 'strong mayor' powers, such as proposing the budget and appointing the Chief Administrative Officer. For 2026 to 2030, the Halton Regional Chair is appointed by the Province, not elected.
  • Some decisions go to tribunals. Certain planning decisions can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, mainly by applicants, landowners, public bodies, and other specified parties. The tribunal can approve, change, or refuse what council decided.

NOT A COUNCIL MATTER

Who to contact instead.

Your councillors can point you in the right direction, but these issues are decided by another government or body.

IssueWho handles it
Public schools, programs, and boundariesHalton District School Board and your elected trustee
Catholic schoolsHalton Catholic District School Board and your elected trustee
Hospitals, doctors, and OHIPProvince of Ontario (Ministry of Health), through your MPP
QEW and Highway 403Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Driver's licences, health cards, and birth certificatesServiceOntario
Renting, evictions, and landlord disputesLandlord and Tenant Board (Province)
Immigration, citizenship, and passportsGovernment of Canada (IRCC), through your MP
Income tax, EI, CPP, and Old Age SecurityGovernment of Canada
A police matter or complaintHalton Regional Police Service (911 for emergencies)

WHO DOES WHAT

Four levels of government.

Responsibilities are split between four governments. Knowing which one handles an issue is the fastest way to get it fixed.

FEDERAL

Government of Canada

  • National defence and foreign affairs
  • Immigration and citizenship
  • Employment Insurance and federal pensions
  • Criminal law
  • Banking, currency, and postal service

PROVINCIAL

Province of Ontario

  • Health care and hospitals
  • Education and school boards
  • Provincial highways and driver licensing
  • Courts and most landlord-tenant law
  • The laws that create and limit municipalities

REGIONAL (UPPER-TIER)

Halton Region

  • Water and wastewater
  • Waste collection
  • Public health and paramedics
  • Social and community housing
  • Regional roads

LOCAL (LOWER-TIER)

Town of Oakville

  • Planning and building permits
  • Local roads and Oakville Transit
  • Parks, recreation, and libraries
  • Fire services
  • By-laws and licensing

HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE

Council acts by majority vote.

Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, a council makes decisions as a body. No single councillor can pass or block a motion. What a councillor can do is represent residents, bring issues forward, build support with colleagues, and vote in council meetings.

Items reach council through staff reports, committee recommendations, or motions from members. Residents can send written comments or register to speak as a delegation at Town Council and committee meetings, and at Regional Council. Agendas and minutes are published by the Town and the Region.

  • Email or call your councillors about a local issue.
  • Send written comments on a Town agenda item to the Town Clerk before the meeting deadline.
  • Comment on a development application near you, ideally before council decides, since that can affect later appeal rights.
  • Register to speak as a delegation at a Town Council or committee meeting, or at Regional Council.
  • Watch Town and Regional Council meetings live or later online.
  • Vote in every municipal election.
Ward 2 voting locationsOffices to be elected (Town of Oakville)Halton Regional Council

Sources

  1. Council size and wards: Town of Oakville, Offices to be Elected (2026)
  2. Council size: Town of Oakville By-law 2016-110 (Council of 15 members)
  3. Council duties and staff role: Ontario Municipal Act, 2001 (sections 224 to 227)
  4. Town responsibilities: Town of Oakville, Mayor and Council
  5. Strong mayor powers: Town of Oakville, Mayoral Decisions
  6. Stormwater: Town of Oakville, Stormwater Fee Feasibility Study
  7. Fire services: Town of Oakville, Fire Master Plan approval
  8. Heritage: Town of Oakville, Heritage Planning
  9. Library: Oakville Public Library, Library Board
  10. Regional Council composition: Halton Region, Halton Regional Council
  11. Regional Chair appointment: Halton Region, 2026 Municipal Election
  12. Regional Chair appointment: Ontario Public Appointments, Halton Regional Chair
  13. Regional services: Halton Region, About Halton Region
  14. Paramedics: Halton Region, Paramedic Services
  15. Long-term care: Halton Region, Services for Older Adults
  16. Housing: Halton Region, Housing Supports and Services
  17. Blue Box and waste: Halton Region, Recycling
  18. Police budget: Halton Region, 2025 Budget and Business Plan
  19. Police board: Halton Police Board, About Us
  20. Planning appeals: Ontario, Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning (Ontario Land Tribunal)
  21. Taking part: Town of Oakville, Delegations and Presentations
  22. Division of powers: Constitution Act, 1867 (sections 91 to 95)

Last reviewed 2026-10-23. This page is a general civic guide, not legal advice. Check the official sources for current details.

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