Tillsonburg asks for pause on strong mayor powers

By Jeff Helsdon

LJI Reporter

Tillsonburg council asked for a pause on the province’s move to implement strong mayor powers.

The province released a proposal on April 9 to expand strong mayor powers to the heads of council in 169 additional municipalities, including Tillsonburg, effective May 1, 2025 to help deliver on provincial priorities, such as building more homes, transit and other infrastructure across Ontario.

Through changes to the Municipal Act in 2022, strong mayor powers were first granted to the heads of councils in Toronto and Ottawa and then to mayors in 48 additional municipalities in 2023. Though several municipalities declined the enhanced mayoral powers, 47 mayors in Ontario now have these strong mayor powers.

“Heads of council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province,” said Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack in a press release announcing the latest proposed expansion. “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. Mayors know their municipalities best, and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.”

Strong mayor powers include the ability to appoint a municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO), hire certain municipal department heads and reorganize departments, create committees of council, propose the municipal budget, propose certain bylaws the mayor says advances a provincial priority, veto certain bylaws the mayor says could interfere with a provincial priority, and bring forward matters for discussion by council if the mayor thinks they could advance a provincial priority.

Tillsonburg council discussed the issue at the April 14 council meeting, two days before the province’s deadline for providing input.

“We all have lots of questions about it. It’s been quite the buzz in the municipal world of Ontario this week,” said Coun. Kelly Spencer, adding when the first round of powers was introduced, some municipalities chose not to make the move.

“There was an exchange of a housing pledge for strong mayor powers,” Tillsonburg CAO Kyle Pratt answered. “It would appear this time no pledge needs to be made and that all 169 municipalities, pending review, will get strong mayor powers.”

He further explained some powers given to the municipality can be delegated to the CAO or council.

“If decisions are already made from council, can they be vetoed, or bylaws that are already by a decision of the majority, can they be vetoed,” Spencer asked. “What if they affect the current budget. I am wondering how all that works.”

Pratt said he has read the legislation and the background to the past legislation. He said if a mayor proposes a budget, council can make amendments. He also added that there is only a week to respond to the legislation.

“I think what’s key in here is the veto power,” Pratt said. “The head of council may in accordance with the regulations veto a resolution passed under a certain section. To override that veto, council may in accordance with the regulation override a head of council’s veto if two-third of members vote to override it.”

Spencer asked if the director of finance and mayor would do the budget.

Director of Finance Renato Pullia answered the mayor would present a proposed budget by Feb. 1. He said the mayor would define what the budget increase would be.

“As it is, technically it would be the mayor’s budget that would be presented,” Pullia said.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, who is on the Rural Ontario Municipal Association board of directors, said the strong mayors’ legislation was a hot topic amongst the mayors at a meeting last week. He said some of the mayors didn’t want the powers.

“I believe the province would like feedback, and it’s a very short window of feedback,” Pratt said.

He is on the board of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, and Treasurers and said the organization doesn’t have a position yet, but the indication is the group will be asking for an extension.

Spencer presented a motion saying that “this proposal has raised significant concerns regarding the centralization of power, erosion of local democracy, reduced accountability, and the potential for the abuse of power; and whereas the proposed expansion of strong mayor powers undermines the collaborative nature of municipal governance, and diminish the role of elected municipal councillors in representing the diverse interests of the community; and whereas concerns have been raised about the negative impacts on public trust, democratic participation, and municipal decision-making processes, if mayors are given the ability to bypass council decisions without adequate consultation or oversight.” The resolution then stated that  council does not support strong mayor powers as currently outlined but does support giving the mayor power to make decisions regarding housing, development, infrastructure, and transit. It also requested that staffing decisions and the composition of committees be removed and the current system is part of the democratic process.

Speaking to the motion, Spencer said, “This speaks to all the grey areas the vagueness of it and asks for the clarity and honing in. Many municipalities, as well as mayors, have spoken about this. At worse, the unruly abuse of power is at the very least the erosion of democracy.”

While she understands the province’s priorities to build 1.5 million homes, Spencer believes Tillsonburg has done its share.

“There’s no accepting this or denying this, it’s been legislated from my understanding and the clarification that I received from the ministry,” said Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “The other thing is it would be very challenging with the two-tier system because with regards to the infrastructure, the county has a 10-year master plan for sewer and water. That needs to be adhered to or there won’t be any funding.”

“This is where the grey areas are and that has to be straightened out before the legislation is put through,” Beres said.

Council passed the resolution unanimously.

- With files from Galen Simmons