Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association

Ontario’s upcoming municipal elections promise change, as they always do. ​

No candidate campaigns on maintaining the status quo. ​ Even incumbents frame their agendas as a reset, new priorities, renewed urgency, and fresh approaches. ​ However, this election season brings added complexity, as the change is not just political but also structural, legislative, and administrative. ​Municipalities will face simultaneous shifts in council priorities, governing rules, and leadership expectations. The key to navigating these transitions lies in political acuity. ​

The Campaign for Change ​

Change is the currency of election campaigns. Community frustration is already growing based on issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, infrastructure backlogs, service pressures, and the pace of growth. ​

Candidates will be campaigning to platforms that promise faster housing approvals, better transit, tightening of the public purse, and greater transparency. These commitments, while varied, share a critique of current municipal processes, and create heightened expectations for urgent action following the election. ​The period between late October and the first budget cycle will become a proving ground for councils to show momentum and demonstrate they are the real deal! ​

Legislative Shifts

Overlaying this political dynamic are legislative changes from the province that will reshape municipal governance. These include appointing Regional Chairs, reducing elected officials, and extending “strong mayor” powers to regional structures. ​ These changes aim to drive provincial priorities, such as increasing housing supply, by consolidating executive authority. ​ Without question this shift will have an impact on council deliberations, agenda-setting, and the advancement of major initiatives. ​Municipal employees, who historically served the entire councils without favour, may now need to adapt to stronger central direction from mayors/regional chairs while stickhandling obligations to appease the council as a whole. ​

Administrative Transitions

Post-election, new councils especially those with many first-time members—often bring new energy and fresh expectations for transparency, responsiveness, and making speedy decisions. ​

They may also seek to “clean house,” leading to changes in senior administrative structures, such as CAO transitions, department realignments, and shifts in corporate priorities. ​Even if personnel remain the same, reporting relationships and internal accountabilities can change overnight, creating new risk tolerances and new political boundaries.

The Role of Political Acuity ​

These forces, campaign-driven change, legislative shifts, and administrative transitions can create considerable chaos and confusion. Success will in large part depend upon one critical skill: political acuity. ​

In a municipal context, political acuity is not about partisanship or personal loyalty. ​It is the professional ability to read the environment accurately and respond in ways that protect the institution and its’ people while supporting and enabling elected officials to govern effectively. ​It involves understanding the priorities behind motions, the pressures behind public statements, and the long-term consequences of decisions. ​

For administrators, political acuity means translating campaign promises into actionable plans explaining timelines, legal constraints, and trade-offs without being or appearing to be obstructive. ​It also requires anticipating potential conflicts between new powers or provincial expectations and local processes, preparing solutions that reduce friction while ensuring compliance. ​

Additionally, administrators must manage relationships in a more complex governance landscape, balancing collective council service, supporting the mayor’s leadership role, and maintaining a professional, non-partisan stance. ​

Balancing Change and Stability ​

Above all, political acuity ensures that “change” does not devolve into disruption. ​Municipal governments are operationally heavy institutions, responsible for essential services like water, roads, permits, emergency services, waste collection, and planning. ​These functions don’t take a pause during political transitions. ​

The public expects continuity alongside visible progress. ​

Administrators who excel in this moment will respect the democratic impulse for change while preserving the operational stability that enables it. ​

Ontario’s municipal elections will welcome new faces, changing governing rules, shifting leadership expectations, and new administrative realities. ​ In this environment, political acuity is not optional. It is the skill that transforms competing pressures into coherent direction, ensuring that change leads to measurable improvement rather than chaos.

Strengthening political acuity is essential for navigating the shifting landscape leading into the upcoming municipal fall elections. As priorities evolve, alliances shift, and new or returning members of Council bring different perspectives, those with strong political awareness are better positioned to “read the room,” anticipate decision-making dynamics, and adapt their strategies accordingly.

By sharpening this skill, municipal staff can enhance their confidence and agility to deliver the desired change.

Written by: Angela Gravelle, Executive Director of OMLI and is a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner