Council keeps executive performance reviews confidential

Summary#

Executive Committee carried a motion on June 9, 2026, to keep its closed-meeting discussions about the Chief Administrative Officer’s 2026 Q2 performance check-in confidential. The motion cites privacy, confidential evaluations and advice from officials as grounds for confidentiality; it does not make the evaluation’s contents public.

  • The confidentiality motion passed 8 to 1. Councillor Johnston voted against it.
  • The check-in is part of quarterly reviews that Executive Committee agreed to hold in January 2026.
  • City staff say the report supports the committee’s review process, including the annual performance evaluation required by provincial law.

What it means for you#

  • Residents: The closed-meeting discussion remains confidential. The public material does not disclose the CAO’s performance or the committee’s assessment.
  • The CAO: This decision does not change the CAO’s duties or set a new performance target. The law requires Council to provide an annual written evaluation; the committee had already agreed to quarterly check-ins.
  • City staff: The City Clerk’s Office supports the process, with an external consultant facilitating the annual evaluation and quarterly check-ins, according to the report.

Money#

City staff report no anticipated financial impact.

  • The report gives no cost estimate for the external consultant or other staff time.

What is unclear#

  • The public material does not say what was discussed or concluded at the check-in.
  • It does not give the consultant’s cost, contract terms or the number of staff involved.
  • The committee’s decision does not explain Councillor Johnston’s reason for voting against confidentiality.

Case for#

  • City staff say quarterly check-ins support the committee’s evaluation role and help document the process.
  • The motion cites personal privacy, confidential evaluations and advice from officials as grounds for keeping the closed-meeting discussion confidential.

Case against#

  • Councillor Johnston voted against the confidentiality motion, but the materials do not state why.
  • Keeping the discussion confidential means the public cannot assess the committee’s discussion or conclusions from this material.

Votes

Executive Committee, item 7.11 (Chief Administrative Officer – 2026 Q2 Performance Evaluation Check-in, EC2026-0311): That Committee rise and report.

For (100%)

Executive Committee, item 7.11 (Chief Administrative Officer – 2026 Q2 Performance Evaluation Check-in, EC2026-0311): That with respect to Report EC2026-0311, the following be approved: That Executive Committee direct that the Closed Meeting discussions remain confidential pursuant to Section 20 (Disclosure harmful to personal privacy), 22 (Confidential evaluations), and 29 (Advice from officials) of the Access to Information Act.

For (89%)
Against (11%)