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Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 you
Read by hand. We read Kirkland Lake'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

Kirkland Lake is run by an elected council of 7 people. They set the budget, approve big purchases and hire the senior staff who run the town day to day.

Current council

  • MayorStacy Wight
  • CouncillorJanice Ranger
  • CouncillorLad Shaba
  • CouncillorCasey Owens
  • CouncillorDolly Dikens
  • CouncillorRick Owen
  • CouncillorPat Kiely

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 Kirkland Lake?

What a resident can find online without asking, as of October 5, 2026.

  • Partly
    Budgets posted online

    The 2023, 2024 and 2025 budget pages link PDFs on the Town's own site, including the adopted 2025 budget. The 2026 budget (amended February 10, 2026) is linked from a document site that tells automated readers not to download from it, so we did not read it. Source

  • Unknown
    Audited financial statements

    The Reports and Plans page links to the Town's document site, which tells automated readers not to download from it. We could not check whether recent audited statements are posted there. Source

  • Unknown
    Council pay and expenses (s. 284)

    The Council Expense Reports page says the yearly statements are in the Town's document centre, which tells automated readers not to download from it. We could not read them. Source

  • Unknown
    Council agendas and minutes

    The Town's agendas and minutes page links to its document site, which tells automated readers not to download from it. We could not check how up to date the minutes are. Source

  • Yes
    Strong Mayor Powers decisions

    The Town posts the Mayor's decisions and directives under the Strong Mayor Powers, including the May 29, 2025 directive on the 2026 budget. Source

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

  • Reserve and reserve fund balances, December 31, 2024 and 2025

    The 2023 and 2025 budget reports both say reserve projections would be presented later. The balances show how much room is left. Related question: How much is left in the Town's reserves after using millions from them for three budgets in a row?.

    Show the request wordingHide the wording
    Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I request the balance of each of the Town's reserves and reserve funds at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, and any report to Council that projects the Town's 2023, 2024 or 2025 reserves.

  • How the 2025 levy reduction of $596,793 and the 6.5% increase were worked out

    The report's reduction and percentage do not match the levy figures it names. Related question: Do the Town's published 2025 tax figures fit together?.

    Show the request wordingHide the wording
    Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I request the Treasurer's schedule of the amendments Council directed on March 27, 2025 to the 2025 budget, showing the effect of each on the tax levy, and the calculation behind the 10.3% and 6.5% levy increases in report 2025-CORP-013.

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.

  1. Integrity Commissioner

    The Town posts a Code of Conduct, an inquiry protocol and three older Integrity Commissioner inquiry reports, from 2019 to 2021. We did not find any newer reports on the page.

  2. Ombudsman

    The Town has a page on its Ombudsman. We did not read reports from the Ontario Ombudsman about this Town.

  3. Compliance Audit Committee

    The Town has a page for its election Compliance Audit Committee. We did not read it.