Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026Details
This is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell youRead by hand. We read Fort Erie's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Council
Who decides, and how you can hold them to account
Fort Erie is run by an elected council of 8 people. They set the budget, approve big purchases and hire the senior staff who run the town day to day.
Current council
- MayorWayne Redekop
- Ward 1 CouncillorGeorge McDermott
- Ward 2 CouncillorNick Dubanow
- Ward 3 CouncillorDarren Flagg
- Ward 4 CouncillorJoan Christensen
- Ward 5 CouncillorTom Lewis
- Ward 6 CouncillorAnn-Marie Noyes
- Regional CouncillorTom Insinna
Names and official email addresses from the town's council page. None of the members lists a public social media account there.
How open is Fort Erie?
What a resident can find online without asking, as of October 5, 2026.
- YesBudgets posted online
The 2026 capital, water and wastewater, and general levy budget presentations are posted on the Town's Let's Talk Fort Erie page. The Town's own annual budgets page describes the budget process but did not link the 2026 documents on the day we read it. Source
- UnknownAudited financial statements
The Town's financial reports page says the annual financial report is posted with council agendas and that reports are available by phone. The statements sit on the meeting portal, which showed a browser check to our scripted download, so we did not read them. We did not read the 2025 or 2024 statements and use no figure from them. Source
- UnknownCouncil pay and expenses (s. 284)
We did not find the yearly statement on the Town's own pages, and the meeting portal where it would be filed blocked our scripted download. We read none and the pack has no pay table. Source
- UnknownMeeting agendas and minutes
Agendas and minutes are on the Town's eScribe portal. Its document downloads showed a browser check ("Verifying your browser") to a plain scripted request, so we did not read any minutes or reports. Source
- YesCouncil meetings recorded
The Town says council meetings are live-streamed and recorded. Source
Where the town speaks for itself
Fort Erie's official channels, as linked from its own website. Council members may also post on their own pages; we link only to official municipal channels.
- Town of Fort Erie on YouTube
The Town says council meetings are live-streamed and recorded, and that meetings before June 26, 2023 are on this channel. Later meetings are viewed through its meeting portal.
- Let's Talk Fort Erie
The Town's engagement site. It carries the 2026 budget page with the three budget presentations.
Ask for the records
Anyone can ask the town for its records under Ontario's Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). You do not have to say why. Here is how it works, and the wording for the records that would answer the questions on this site.
- Send the request in writing to the town clerk (the freedom of information coordinator), on the town’s form or in a letter, with the $5 application fee.
- Describe the records, not the answer you want. Dates, departments and the kind of record (a list, invoices, emails) make a request quicker and cheaper.
- The town has 45 business days to answer (the law changed in 2026; older guides say 30 days). It can charge for search time and copies, but must send an estimate first if the fees will be over $25.
- Some parts can be held back, such as legal advice or personal information about other people. The town must say which part of the law it relied on.
- If you are refused, or the fees seem too high, you can appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner within 30 business days of the town’s decision.
The town's request form (on its Forms page) · The law · Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Capital variance report CS-10-2025 and its appendices
The capital slides cite it for the 159 open projects and $87M of outstanding budget, but its appendices list the projects. Related question: Why do 159 open capital projects still hold $87M of approved budget?.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I request Report CS-10-2025 with Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 (closed capital projects and the status of open capital projects), and the start date, approved budget and amount spent to date of each open project.
Council decision and agreement for the Coal Docks grant
The 2026 budget carries $500,000 for this grant as the result of an earlier report or resolution. Related question: What is the one-time $500,000 Coal Docks grant to NPC in the 2026 budget?.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I request the Council report and resolution approving the $500,000 Coal Docks grant to NPC, and any grant agreement that sets out what it pays for and its conditions.
The wording is a starting point, not legal advice. Narrow the dates if the town says a request is too broad or too costly.
How to raise a concern
From the gentlest step to the most serious. Start at the top.
Integrity Commissioner
The Town says that on December 16, 2024 Council approved By-law 133-2024 to appoint an Integrity Commissioner (Michael Maynard of ADR Chambers Inc.). The page explains how to complain and says no inquiry applications are allowed between Nomination Day and Voting Day in a regular election. We did not find any Integrity Commissioner reports on the page.
Freedom of information
The Town offers informal requests (routine disclosure) and formal requests under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, with an online form.