County wins provincial recognition on transparency
Northumberland County Building-Courtesy of Northumberland County.
By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland County has been recognized by the Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario for its leadership in making municipal performance information more accessible to residents through its Performance Dashboard.
The Dashboard was also featured as part of the IPC's 2026 Transparency Challenge, a virtual gallery showcasing innovative projects that advance government transparency, open data and public access to information.
The Transparency Challenge brings together leading transparency initiatives from public institutions across Ontario, highlighting best-in-class approaches that help residents understand government decisions, performance and outcomes. It provides an opportunity for public-sector organizations to share creative and impactful projects that promote openness and strengthen public trust.
“Being selected for the Transparency Challenge is meaningful recognition of the work Northumberland County has undertaken to make government information more accessible, understandable and useful for residents,” Warden Bob Crate said in the announcement.
“This acknowledgement from an independent, respected organization reinforces our commitment to going beyond legislative requirements and actively creating opportunities for residents to see how the county is performing against its goals and priorities.”
Launched in February 2024, the Performance Dashboard tracks 45 priorities aligned with the county's 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan, offering a clear and accessible way to monitor progress on the commitments outlined in the plan, organized under the plan's five pillars.
Updated quarterly, the dashboard goes beyond numbers by explaining what the results mean, why they matter and how they connect to community priorities. In instances where performance indicators are not on track, the dashboard identifies actions and next steps to address the situation.
The announcement noted that residents can also stay informed through the county's annual report, which provides an overview of programs, services and accomplishments, as well as annual Audited Financial Statements. There is also the Join-In Northumberland community-engagement platform that allows residents to share feedback on county projects and initiatives. As well, the Council web page provides access to council and committee agendas, minutes and recorded meetings.
“Transparency and accountability at the municipal level go to the very heart of democracy by meaningfully engaging citizens in their communities and bringing local governments closest to the people they serve,” Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner Patricia Kosseim said.
“Northumberland County's Performance Dashboard empowers residents and drives citizen engagement by making municipal performance data easy to find and helping residents track progress, ask better questions and see first-hand how municipal services and decisions affect their daily lives.”
For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/Dashboard
