Democracy Caledon Raises Alarm Over Council’s Proposal to Give Town's CAO Blank

Cheques for Spending up to $500,000 per Contract  

 

CALEDON, ON (February 21, 2025) - Democracy Caledon expresses grave concern over

Caledon Council's recent decision to dramatically increase the Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO)

spending limit from $50,000 to as much as $500,000 without Council approval. This move,

proposed in an amendment to a Purchasing Bylaw and set for ratification by Council on February

25, 2025, represents yet another example of the significant erosion of democratic controls and

fiscal accountability in the Town of Caledon.

 

Democracy Caledon calls on Caledon residents to voice their concerns to Council members before

and at the February 25 (7:00 pm) meeting. The non-profit community organization warns that this

decision, if ratified, sets a dangerous precedent for unchecked spending and reduced Council

oversight in Caledon's future and other Ontario communities.

 

"This is an alarming surrender of Council's fiscal management responsibilities to staff" said Debbe

Crandall, President of Democracy Caledon. "Council allowing the CAO to approve 

procurements up to half a million dollars without Council review is a dangerous concentration of

power that undermines transparency and accountability to Caledon taxpayers".

 

The proposed amendment to the Purchasing By-law was initially tabled with a $1 million limit. This

was reduced to $500,000 after numerous questions and concerns were raised by Councillors

DeBoer, Early, Kiernan and Sheen, which resulted in an amendment at the General Committee of

Council meeting on February 4. Democracy Caledon maintains this permission for procurement

spending by staff is still excessive, especially when compared to neighbouring municipalities. The

Region of Peel, with a population of 1.5 million, caps such spending at $250,000, while King

Township requires Council approval for contracts over $100,000.

 

Democracy Caledon contends that this move contravenes the Municipal Act, which lays out

Council's role in ensuring accountability and maintaining financial integrity. The group recommends

a more reasonable limit of $100,000 for CAO-approved non-standard procurements.

 

Democracy Caledon also questions the justification provided for this change, citing insufficient

background information and analysis provided to Council before the Feb. 4 vote. The community

group asks why Caledon’s CAO Nathan Hyde needs up to $500K of taxpayers’ money available to

him to spend without oversight. Mayor Annette Groves' unsubstantiated claims of staff frugality

and savings are not enough to warrant such a dramatic increase in staff’s spending authority.

"Council is abdicating and outsourcing its responsibility to oversee significant expenditures of

taxpayer money" Crandall concluded. "This decision, along with the lack of transparency regarding

the CAO's employment contract and performance review process, raises serious concerns about

governance in Caledon.”​

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Contact:

Democracy Caledon

Email: info@democracycaledon.org

For additional information and to arrange interviews, please contact Debbe Crandall at

info@democracycaledon.org Please provide your phone number for Debbe to call you.

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About Democracy Caledon - democracycaledon.org

Democracy Caledon is a collective of proactive people deeply committed to restoring good

governance in the Town of Caledon. We believe that strong communities are built on a foundation

of transparency, accountability, and engaged citizenry. Our focus is on advocating for responsible

local and regional governance that serves the best interests of all residents.