City of Kitchener
Population: 282,375
Mayor: Berry Vrbanovic
10 Councillors
Find Your Councillor
Civics 101
Understand How Government Works
Everything you need to know about the different levels of government in Waterloo Region — whether you want to vote, run, or just stay informed.
Level 1
🇨🇦 Federal Government
Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The federal government takes responsibility for matters of national and international concern.
In Canada's parliamentary democracy, the people elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa. Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (King), the Senate, and the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government. The House of Commons is made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
Federal Responsibilities
National Defence
Foreign Policy
Policing (RCMP)
Criminal Justice
International Trade
Aboriginal Affairs
Immigration (Shared)
Agriculture (Shared)
Environment (Shared)
Currency
Citizenship
Key Issues in Waterloo Region
Affordable housing and homelessness
Indigenous concerns — Land Back and land acknowledgments
Cost of living
Climate action and environment
Immigration and newcomer services
Key Issues in Ontario
Affordable housing and homelessness
Healthcare funding and access
Education quality and equity
Indigenous reconciliation
Infrastructure and transit
Level 2
🏛️ Ontario Provincial Government
Ontario's Parliament is unicameral — one Legislative Chamber made up of 124 elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), and the Monarch represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Each MPP represents a geographical area called an electoral district, riding, or constituency. In parliament, MPPs introduce bills, propose amendments, vote on legislation, and bring forward issues related to their own riding.
The party that elects the greatest number of members forms the provincial government. The Premier leads the government and selects the Cabinet.
Provincial Responsibilities
Education
Health Care
Natural Resources
Highways
Provincial Policing
Property & Civil Rights
Immigration (Shared)
Agriculture (Shared)
Environment (Shared)
Level 3
🗺️ Region of Waterloo
Below the provincial level, local activism means local impact. If you wish to have the greatest effect on your community, consider running in regional or municipal elections.
Municipalities are normally responsible for urban planning, streets and roads, sanitation, snow removal, firefighting, emergency services, recreation facilities, public transit, and some local health and social services.
Regional Council
Chair Karen Redman leads a council of 16 councillors representing all municipalities in the region.
View CouncilLand Acknowledgment
The Waterloo Region is situated on the Haldimand Tract — lands granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River, within the territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People.
Key Issues
- Affordable housing
- Indigenous reconciliation
- Regional transit (ION)
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Climate and environment
Level 4
🏙️ Municipal Governments
Waterloo Region contains three cities and four townships, each with their own elected mayor and council.
City of Waterloo
Population: 129,054
Mayor: Dorothy McCabe
7 Councillors
View CouncilCity of Cambridge
Population: 146,566
Mayor: Jan Liggett
10 Councillors
View CouncilTownship of Woolwich
Population: ~27,000
Mayor: Sandy Shantz
5 Councillors
Township of Wilmot
Population: 22,157
Mayor: Natasha Salonen
5 Councillors
Township of Wellesley
Population: 11,318
Mayor: Joe Nowak
4 Councillors
Level 5
📚 School Board Trustees
School board trustees are elected to govern the publicly funded school boards in Waterloo Region. There are four school boards operating in the region.
Waterloo Region District School Board
11 Trustees | 16 high schools | 107 elementary schools
Trustee areas: Cambridge + North Dumfries (3), Kitchener (4), Waterloo + Wilmot (3), Wellesley + Woolwich (1)
View TrusteesWaterloo Catholic District School Board
9 Trustees | 5 high schools | 43 elementary schools
Trustee areas: Cambridge + North Dumfries (3), Kitchener + Wilmot (4), Waterloo + Wellesley + Woolwich (2)
View TrusteesConseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
1 Trustee for our region | 1 high school | 3 elementary schools
French Catholic school board serving Waterloo Region.
Conseil scolaire Viamonde
1 Trustee for our region | 1 high school | 3 elementary schools
French public school board serving Waterloo, Wellington, Middlesex, Perth & Huron.