Ontario Expands Strong Mayor Powers to 169 Municipalities

April 9, 2025, 11:21 am

The Ontario government is advancing a plan to extend strong mayor powers to 169 additional communities. This initiative will grant selected mayors enhanced authority to propose bylaws, pass measures with reduced council hurdles, and exercise greater control over key municipal appointments. The reform is part of a broader provincial effort to streamline governance and boost accountability at the local level, promising a significant realignment of administrative power in cities across the province.

torontosun.com / Ontario plans to apply ’strong mayor’ powers in 169 more communities

Ontario plans to triple municipalities with strong mayor powers by adding 169 cities. These powers let mayors propose and pass bylaws with minimal council support, veto legislation, and hire staff, sparking criticism as undemocratic.

theglobeandmail.com / Ontario plans to apply strong mayor powers in 169 more municipalities

The powers would allow heads of council to propose bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councillors, veto bylaws and hire and fire department heads

globalnews.ca / Ontario plans to apply ‘strong mayor’ powers in 169 more communities

Ontario is proposing to more than triple the number of mayors who have so-called strong mayor powers, looking to add 169 municipalities to the list.

citynews.ca / Ford government looks to expand ‘strong mayor’ powers to 169 more Ontario municipalities

The Ontario government plans to extend strong mayor powers to leaders in 169 municipalities—including Orillia, Orangeville, and King Township—according to a statement by the municipal affairs and housing minister.

4 stories from 4 sources in 9 days ago ... #politics #provincial #publicpolicy #urban #ontario #rural #law

Related Tags

Ontario Expands Strong Mayor Powers to 169 Municipalities

Related Tags

Politics

Provincial

Public Policy

Urban

Ontario

Rural

Law