Ontario introduces ‘Strong Mayor’ Act to empower Toronto and Ottawa mayors

Last Wednesday, August 10, 2023, Ontario introduced legislation that would grant the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa broader powers. The new powers would include:

• Hiring the Chief Administrative Officer and municipal department heads, and create and re-organize departments;
• Appointing chairs/vice-chairs for identified committees and local boards, and establish new identified committees;
• Bringing matters for council consideration related to provincial priorities;
• Vetoing bylaws approved by council if they relate to matters of provincial priority, and;
• Proposing the municipal budget.
• To be clear, these proposed measures would allow council to have the ability to propose amendments to the municipal budget. Council would also have the ability to override the mayor’s veto of any budget amendments and by-laws related to provincial priorities with a two-thirds majority vote.

Further, the Premier indicated that, if this proposal works effectively in Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario may consider expanding the powers for other mayors in 2024, specifically naming cities of Brampton, Mississauga, and Hamilton as examples.