Strong mayor

Province extends power to Prince Edward County mayor

The province upended the democratic balance in 169 municipal governments last week. It did so by extending strong mayor powers to municipalities, including Prince Edward County. Effective May 1, the mayor will be empowered to unilaterally hire and fire senior staff, override Council decisions, pass by-laws with only one-third of council support and control budget processes.

It gives the mayor sweeping power to promote provincial priorities related to housing, infrastructure and roads.

Advocates say it empowers mayors to get housing built, to meet provincial housing targets. Detractors describe strong mayor powers as undemocratic, putting too much power in the hands of one person and diminishing the role of elected councils.

Currently, 47 communities have been granted strong mayor powers, including Belleville.

In the first round, the province extended strong mayor powers in exchange for municipal pledges for new homebuilding. It is not yet clear that the incentives and power shift have helped the Ford government meet its goals. The province was well short of its housing targets in 2023—the year strong mayor powers were extended to 46 communities. Similarly, in 2024, the province saw just 81,300 new homes started versus a target of 110,000.

Strong mayor powers aren’t getting the job done. Perhaps doing the same thing in 169 more communities will yield a better result.

In expanding strong mayor powers in 2025, the province has dropped its requirement that municipalities meet a prescribed housing target.

By extending strong mayor powers to these additional municipalities, we are providing mayors every tool at our disposal to empower them to get homes and infrastructure built faster,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Mayors know their municipalities best and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.”

Others say the announcement amounts to the province interfering with municipal decision-making. Peter Woolstencroft is a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Waterloo. He observes in a story in the Stratford Beacon Herald that municipal authority is being drained and centralized at Queen’s Park.

“This ‘strong mayors’ thing is a game-changer because it’s made very clear that the municipalities are supposed to follow provincial priorities,” Woolstencroft said. “So I make the observation that, whenever there’s a quote, unquote crisis, that means that the mayor takes on more responsibilities and centralizes things, and the local forces are weakened. Local councils are weakened.”

‘Respectfully decline’

There was no rousing cheer from Ontario municipalities after learning 169 more heads of council were being granted strong mayor powers by the province. Many municipal leaders are speaking out against the provincial intrusion into their business.

Some say their councils are inclined to ignore the extra powers in favour of the collaborative council approach they rely on now, while others are outright hostile to the province’s intrusion into local affairs.

“I don’t see the merit,” said Essex County mayor Sherry Bondy, pushing back on Ford’s expanded strong mayor powers in a Facebook post last week. “I’m enraged right now, and I’m livid that this is even a thing because it takes away and erodes. What is the point in having councils? What is the point in having elections if the mayor can veto budgets, fire staff and just do whatever they feel is fit?”

Perth council has officially rejected the province’s interference with its governance. In a special meeting on Monday morning, Perth council requested that the town be removed from the list of municipalities set to receive strong mayor powers on May 1, citing the risk of abuse, erosion of democracy and the lack of consultation.

“I was shocked when this came forward—that a small town like ours would be given strong mayor capability,” said Mayor Judy Brown in a report in Perth Heart and Heritage. “While there may be rare situations where this kind of authority could be useful, such as breaking a deadlock, the potential for abuse far outweighs any benefits. That’s already been seen in other communities. I would not support the idea of having these powers.”

Orillia’s council also approved a motion calling for the province to rescind the powers given to Orillia mayor Don McIsaac in a tense special meeting on Friday, according to Orillia Matters.

“This is a slap in the face for democracy,” said Orillia council member Tim Lauer, describing the province’s action as “totally disrespectful to Council and totally disrespectful to the residents of Orillia.”

A Windsor council member also wants Premier Doug Ford and the province to remove his city from the list of municipalities governed by the strong mayor powers. Kieran McKenzie says there was no consultation with the council or the public before last week’s announcement.

The strong mayor system is fundamentally at odds with how local government should function,” said Councillor McKenzie.

Leamington’s mayor, Hilda MacDonald, says she’ll “respectfully decline” the ministry’s offer of strong mayor powers.

In Grey County, municipal leaders aren’t enthused by strong mayor powers in their community, according to the Owen Sound Sun Times.

“Personally I think it is pretty important to try and build consensus as much as possible,” said Ian Boddy, mayor of Owen Sound. “You are always going to have a division of council or a potential division of council, but you want to have as many onside as you can.”

Meanwhile, Sue Paterson, mayor of Hanover, believes that the process currently in place in her community is democratic and works.

“All of council may not agree on every issue, but we work best when all voices are heard equally,” Paterson said. “Council as a whole works in the best interests of the public and the community we serve.”

West Nipissing mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon worries about unforeseen consequences according to Bay Today, an online newspaper serving the region.

“In the right hands, there are tools there that can expedite things,” said Mayor Thorne Rochon. “In the wrong hands, there is definitely potential for abuse. When you have mayors that don’t believe as staunchly in the democratic process as I do, there is definitely an opportunity for abuse.”

In Aurora, Mayor Tom Mrakas used strong mayor powers granted to him in 2023 to kill a proposal for a men’s shelter in that community. Mayor Mrakas vetoed a Council decision to call on York Region to resubmit its proposal for a men’s emergency and transitional shelter in Aurora.

However, it isn’t just elected officials sounding the alarm; the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) opposes strong mayor powers.

“Our research indicates that strong mayor powers have blurred the political-administrative authority between the roles of head of council and chief administrative officers (CAOs), threatening the neutrality of the public service and politicizing local government leadership. As an Association, we continue to voice our opposition to strong mayor legislation, calling specifically for the removal of the authority of heads of council to directly hire or terminate any municipal staff, including the CAO.”

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner is a vocal opponent.

“I’m absolutely opposed to strong mayor powers,” said Schreiner during the recent provincial election. “We’d get rid of them. I believe in democracy, and I think democratically elected councils should be making decisions with mayors that put their residents first.”

In Toronto, all five previous mayors wrote to Doug Ford in 2023, describing the new powers as an attack on democracy and majority rule.