Strong mayor powers: getting things done, or the end of council?

A strong mayor in Ontario can propose the budget and veto council’s amendments, hire and fire the chief administrator and department heads, direct staff, and bring forward bylaws that advance a provincial priority, housing mostly, and pass them with the support of one third of council. Toronto and Ottawa got the powers in 2022. On May 1, 2025, the province extended them to 169 more municipalities: everything with a council of six or more, which is nearly every town in this region. Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge, the three that were too small, are being added now.

The province’s own consultation on the expansion came back predominantly negative and it went ahead. The case for is that councils in this region spent a decade saying no to homes and somebody needed a way through. The case against is arithmetic: a bylaw that passes with a third of the votes is not a decision of council, it is a decision of the mayor with council watching.

On October 26 you will elect a mayor with these powers, whether or not the candidates mention it.

Sources: BLG, strong mayor powers widely expanded · CBC, the expansion went ahead despite “predominantly negative” feedback · Durham Radio News, powers for Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge