Councillor Card put forth a motion at today’s Quinte West Council meeting to establish an Innovation and Efficency Working Group to improve operational excellence.
The details stated that the City of Quinte West must continue to look for innovative ways to better deliver existing services and achieve operational efficencies wherever possible, while minimizing the cost and financial burden of city services and operations for residents.
It was also mentioned that rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence automation and digital technologies offer significant, proven opportunities to streamline municipal operations, improve staff productivity and customer service, and modernize the delivery of services all while saving taxpayers money.
It was stated that the mandate of this Working Group would be narrow in respect to the short time left in the Council term to identify, investigate, and create business cases for high-potential technologies that require low capital investment, but offer tangible labour or other cost savings while continuing or improving the services currently being delivered.
“The intention or goal wouldn’t be to create an AI-usage policy, it’s to discuss, investigate, and recommend tool systems and programs,” said Councillor Card.
“I think a lot about addressing the city’s fiscal challenges and we’ve done a lot of good work on some of those issues this term. One of the areas that I think we have an existing opportunity would be in operations, seeing if there are opportunities for change utilizing some of these technologies.”
Councillor Dave O’Neil spoke to the motion, saying he appreciates what Councillor Card is trying to do, but there isn’t enough of a timeline for a group to form and ‘get everything done’.
Councillor Egerton Boyce also spoke, saying that Council does not need a Working Group to reiterate to the directors the importance of saving money and doing things efficiently.
“I think the city staff already know and give reports to Council. I don’t think we need to get that deep with Council. Council tells staff the importance of finding efficinces and I think that’s all that is necessary, not another group to bog down the process.”
Councillor Karen Sharpe spoke similarly to the motion, suggesting allowing the administration to take control.
“I’m concerned about the cybersecurity, the protection of data, this is huge and I know staff have been undertaking quite a bit, but there’s access controls, data protection, lots of framework, and it would be a lot of cost,” she said.
“I’d like our staff to continue the work they’re doing and come back, and I don’t think we would necessarily have to form a political committee to drive this at this point.”
The motion lost on a 10-2 vote. Councillor Dave McCue was not present.
Council decided to have staff bring back a report and an update on the matter.
Council meets again February 4th, 2026 at Quinte West City Hall for 4:30pm.
