May 28, 2026 · 22 min · 6 segments
Host Amy Stasiewicz recaps the latest Finance & Administration Standing Committee meeting. Kristyn Lovato-Day, Policy and Research Analyst for Corporate Services, joins the Minutes studio to discuss…
Like all meetings, the night began with a land acknowledgement, and then right into the agenda.
The first report of administration is a request to approve external funding for capital.
This report is about making sure the city can properly use funding it's already received from outside sources.
Throughout the year, the city secures funding from a variety of sources, things like grants, donations, and agreements with organizations.
Because these funds often come in after the annual budget is approved, they need a formal process to be added in.
In 2025, those contributions came from a range of sources, like revenue from tree chipping through Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, scrap metal recycling, and donations pl- to places like the conservatory and Tbaytel Multiplex.
There were also significant grants from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as well as support from provincial and federal partners.
There's also a major investment, over at $1.6 million, in expanding and restoring our urban tree canopy, helping neighborhoods and improve local ecosystems.
Along the waterfront, projects like wetland re- restoration at Pool 6 are improving habitat, strengthening shorelines, and creating more resilient green spaces for the future.
It's important to note that these projects are funded entirely through external sources, meaning there's no additional cost to taxpayers.
Standing committee endorsed the report, and it will now go to council in the upcoming weeks.
Each quarter, administration reviews how revenues and expenses are tracking compared to the approved budget, and then estimates where things are expected to land by the year-end.
Since this is an early snapshot covering up to March 31st, it's still primarily an assessment.
Overall, the city's finances are tracking as expected, with no major concerns at this time.
Several departments like long-term care, community strategies, engineering, and operations, and fleet services are all showing small positive variances.
On the cost side, there are a few things being watched closely, like fuel prices and certain chemical costs.
Looking at agencies, boards, and commissions, there are no significant variances identified at this time.
At this stage, the city remains on track financially with stable operations, and of course, as the year progresses, these forecasts will be updated, so stay tuned.
The next report of administration was focused on the city's 2027 budget calendar.
Administration is asking for approval of the budget timeline, basically when council will review and finalize the 2027 operating budget and the 2027 to 2028 capital budget.
Because this is an election year, administration isn't setting a new budget direction just yet.
Instead, they'll follow the city's long-range financial plan, which aims to keep tax increases in line with inflation, starting at a minimum of 3%.
Like all meetings, the night began with a land acknowledgement, and then right into the agenda.
The first report of administration is a request to approve external funding for capital.
This report is about making sure the city can properly use funding it's already received from outside sources.
Throughout the year, the city secures funding from a variety of sources, things like grants, donations, and agreements with organizations.
Because these funds often come in after the annual budget is approved, they need a formal process to be added in.
In 2025, those contributions came from a range of sources, like revenue from tree chipping through Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, scrap metal recycling, and donations pl- to places like the conservatory and Tbaytel Multiplex.
There were also significant grants from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as well as support from provincial and federal partners.
There's also a major investment, over at $1.6 million, in expanding and restoring our urban tree canopy, helping neighborhoods and improve local ecosystems.
Along the waterfront, projects like wetland re- restoration at Pool 6 are improving habitat, strengthening shorelines, and creating more resilient green spaces for the future.
It's important to note that these projects are funded entirely through external sources, meaning there's no additional cost to taxpayers.
Standing committee endorsed the report, and it will now go to council in the upcoming weeks.
Each quarter, administration reviews how revenues and expenses are tracking compared to the approved budget, and then estimates where things are expected to land by the year-end.
Since this is an early snapshot covering up to March 31st, it's still primarily an assessment.
Overall, the city's finances are tracking as expected, with no major concerns at this time.
Several departments like long-term care, community strategies, engineering, and operations, and fleet services are all showing small positive variances.
On the cost side, there are a few things being watched closely, like fuel prices and certain chemical costs.
Looking at agencies, boards, and commissions, there are no significant variances identified at this time.
At this stage, the city remains on track financially with stable operations, and of course, as the year progresses, these forecasts will be updated, so stay tuned.
The next report of administration was focused on the city's 2027 budget calendar.
Administration is asking for approval of the budget timeline, basically when council will review and finalize the 2027 operating budget and the 2027 to 2028 capital budget.
Because this is an election year, administration isn't setting a new budget direction just yet.
Instead, they'll follow the city's long-range financial plan, which aims to keep tax increases in line with inflation, starting at a minimum of 3%.
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