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This is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date.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 Waterloo'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
Waterloo is run by an elected council of 8 people. They set the budget, approve big purchases and hire the senior staff who run the city day to day.
Current council
- MayorDorothy McCabemayor@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 1Sandra Hanmersandra.hanmer@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 2Royce Bodalyroyce.bodaly@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 3Hans Roachhans.roach@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 4Diane Freemandiane.freeman@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 5Jen Vasicjen.vasic@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 6Mary Lou Roemarylou.roe@
waterloo.ca - Councillor, Ward 7Julie Wrightjulie.wright@
waterloo.ca
Names and official email addresses from the city's council page. None of the members lists a public social media account there.
What council is paid
Every year the city has to publish what each council member was paid, and what was spent on their benefits and expenses. These are the totals from those statements, 2022 to 2024.
| Member | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy McCabe Mayor | $131,727+ $39,652 | $128,446+ $42,467 | $13,952+ $1,359 |
| Royce Bodaly Councillor | $52,104+ $618 | $50,159+ $656 | $48,610+ $233 |
| Diane Freeman Councillor | $52,104+ $17,910 | $50,159+ $21,772 | $48,610+ $6,336 |
| Sandra Hanmer Councillor | $52,104+ $4,548 | $50,159+ $2,942 | $48,610+ $2,581 |
| Hans Roach Councillor | $52,104+ $1,244 | $50,159+ $1,730 | $5,268+ $22 |
| Mary Lou Roe Councillor | $52,104+ $4,835 | $50,159+ $3,632 | $5,268+ $576 |
| Jennifer Vasic Councillor | $52,104+ $3,266 | $50,159+ $4,522 | $48,610+ $1,809 |
| Julie Wright Councillor | $52,104+ $1,509 | $50,159+ $1,541 | $5,268+ $556 |
| Dave Jaworsky Mayor (until the 2022 election) | – | – | $111,548+ $39,271 |
| Tenille Bonoguore Councillor (until the 2022 election) | – | – | $43,342+ $468 |
| Jeff Henry Councillor (until the 2022 election) | – | – | $43,342+ $11,777 |
| Angela Vieth Councillor (until the 2022 election) | – | – | $43,342+ $3,444 |
Top number: pay. Second number: benefits and expenses together, such as health cover, mileage, conferences and training. Exactly what goes in it differs a little from city to city; the note below says what this city’s statement includes. Some members take the city’s health plan and some do not, so a higher second number is not a problem by itself. The statements give only totals; the receipts behind them can be requested from the clerk.
Each year links to the city's statement. From the City’s yearly statements under section 284 of the Municipal Act. “pay” is the Remuneration column (regular earnings, benefits and, for the Mayor, a car allowance). “other” is every other column added together: conferences, meetings and events, communications, and pay for sitting on the Enova power company board (or its predecessor Waterloo North Hydro in 2022). The 2022 statement covers part-year members on both sides of the October 2022 election. We did not find the 2025 statement.
How open is Waterloo?
What a resident can find online without asking, as of October 5, 2026.
- YesBudgets posted online
The approved 2024-2026 operating budget book, capital budget book and business plans are posted, with 2023 and earlier budgets. Waterloo passes a three-year budget, so there is no separate 2026 book. The 2026 tax rate was “Confirmed by council on December 8, 2025”. Source
- YesAudited financial statements
Statements for 2021 to 2025 are posted. The 2025 statements carry a clean opinion (“present fairly”) from KPMG LLP dated September 16, 2026. The 2024 statements carry the date July 15, 2025. Source
- PartlyCouncil pay and expenses (s. 284)
Statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 are posted. The city says these reports are released by March 31 and cover the previous year, but we did not find the 2025 statement on the page on October 5, 2026. Source
- PartlyCapital reports
The finance page lists yearly capital reports for 2021, 2022 and 2023 only. We did not find 2024 or 2025 reports there. Source
- YesCouncil meeting video
The city says live and past council meetings can be watched on its YouTube channel. Source
- UnknownConflict-of-interest registry
We did not look for the registry or read meeting minutes for this pack. Source
Where the city speaks for itself
Waterloo'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.
- City of Waterloo on YouTube
Live and recorded council meetings, linked from the city’s Council and committee meetings page.
- City of Waterloo on Facebook
Official city page, linked from waterloo.ca.
- City of Waterloo on Instagram
Official city account, linked from waterloo.ca.
- City of Waterloo on LinkedIn
Official city page, linked from waterloo.ca.
Ask for the records
Anyone can ask the city 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 city clerk (the freedom of information coordinator), on the city’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 city 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 city 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 city’s decision.
The city's request form (on its Forms page) · The law · Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Council pay and expenses statement for 2025
The city says the statement is released by March 31 each year, but we did not find the 2025 statement on its council page.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
I request, under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: Please provide the Annual Statement of Remuneration and Expenses for Elected Officials for 2025 prepared under section 284 of the Municipal Act, 2001, with any staff report that went with it.
What the “In Camera” budget line pays for
The 2024-2026 operating budget has a line “B15 In Camera” of $2,742,304 in 2024 with no description. Related question: Waterloo’s budget has a $2,742,304 line named only “In Camera”. What is it for, and why is it not described in public?.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
I request, under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: Please provide any staff report, resolution or schedule that describes budget request B15 “In Camera” in the 2024-2026 operating budget, including what the amounts of 2,742,304, 2,698,696 and 2,655,930 pay for. Where a closed-session item cannot be released, please provide a description of the category of spending.
Industrial Land fund recovery schedule
The audited statements show the Industrial Land fund at (31,204) at the end of 2025; the budget forecast expects large recoveries in 2026 and 2027. Related question: Waterloo’s Industrial Land fund is overdrawn by $31,204,000. Why is it further down than the city’s own plan said, and when will it be paid back?.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
I request, under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: Please provide the current forecast of the Industrial Land Reserve Fund, the source of each “Recovery” amount planned for 2026 and 2027, and the interest charged to the fund in 2025.
2025 capital budget and carry-forward
The audited statements show a 2025 capital budget of 174,987 and actual acquisitions of 38,698, and the budget book plans 114,266. Related question: Waterloo budgeted $174,987,000 for buying and building assets in 2025 and spent $38,698,000. Is the capital plan too big to deliver?.
Show the request wordingHide the wording
I request, under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: Please provide a project-by-project summary of the 2025 approved capital budget, actual 2025 spending and the amount carried into 2026.
The wording is a starting point, not legal advice. Narrow the dates if the city 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 city’s City Council page says a person can make an informal or formal complaint to the Integrity Commissioner by emailing the City Clerk. We did not find a named commissioner or a list of reports on the pages we read.
Closed meetings
The city’s “How council meetings work” page says closed meetings are limited to confidential matters such as land, legal or personal information, and that council reports back afterward about the general outcome. We did not find a named closed-meeting investigator or a list of investigation reports.
Mayoral decisions (strong-mayor powers)
The Mayor’s statement on the city’s page says she does not intend to use the strong-mayor powers and will not introduce her own budget.