Gravenhurst Council approves Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee

The committee will serve all the municipalities in Muskoka

Gravenhurst Council approved the establishment and appointment of the Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee for the 2026-2030 Council term during its Aug. 11, 2026, meeting.

The joint committee will serve the towns of Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville, along with the townships of Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lakes.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, municipalities are required to appoint compliance audit committees to deal with matters related to municipal election campaign finances before Oct. 1 of an election year.

The Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee will be responsible for addressing applications for compliance audits involving candidates or registered third parties. It will also deal with reports from municipal clerks concerning contribution limits involving candidates and registered third parties.

The committee will consist of three voting members of the public, with two additional members available as alternates. The five appointed members are Doug Lindsay, Bob Panizza, Diane Ploss, Gerard Agada and Josh Lilley.

Municipal employees and officers, members of Council, candidates in the election for which the committee is established and registered third parties in the municipality are not permitted to serve on a compliance audit committee.

The committee's four-year term will run from Nov. 15, 2026, to Nov. 14, 2030. If an audit extends beyond the end of the committee's term, the municipal clerk has delegated authority to extend the term when required.

While the committee will operate jointly across the six Muskoka municipalities, Gravenhurst will be responsible for costs associated with committee operations and activities specifically related to the Town of Gravenhurst.

The committee will conduct its business under its 2026-2030 terms of reference and administrative practices and procedures established through the municipal clerk.

The Municipal Elections Act requires councils to cover costs related to the operation and activities of their compliance audit committees.

The bylaw establishing and appointing the Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee comes into effect Nov. 15, 2026.