Performance measures are standards and metrics provinces use to evaluate municipal service delivery, efficiency, and accountability. Provincial performance measurement programs require municipalities to report standardized data enabling comparison across communities and over time. Measures may address service areas like emergency response times, infrastructure condition, financial health, and citizen satisfaction. Ontario's Municipal Performance Measurement Program is one example requiring annual reporting on dozens of indicators. While measurement can drive improvement, municipalities sometimes note that standardized measures don't capture local context or that compliance burdens are significant. Effective performance frameworks balance accountability with practical reporting requirements.