Windsor and London have been added to a list of Ontario cities that can utilize strong-mayor powers.
During a meeting Friday morning with Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM), Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announced that 26 municipalities are granted strong-mayor powers as part of a goal to build 1.5-million new homes province-wide over the next eight years.
With that, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and London Mayor Josh Morgan are now able to use those powers if they choose.
“Municipalities are critical partners for our government as we help communities get shovels in the ground faster and work to build more homes,” said Clark. “By adopting ambitious and absolutely necessary housing pledges, these 26 municipalities have demonstrated they understand the importance of that target, and we are ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed. We welcome housing pledges from other municipalities to help reach our goal of 1.5-million homes by 2031.”
Dilkens responded to the news Friday afternoon with a statement on Twitter.
“I want to assure you that my commitment to transparency and accountability will remain unwavering throughout the implementation of this Bill, and beyond,” tweeted Dilkens. “Moving forward, as we collectively examine the effects of this legislation, city administration, council members, and myself, are committed to ensuring the public continues to be informed of its implications.”
Under the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, mayors can personally appoint a Chief Administrative Officer, hire the heads of certain departments, have more of a hand in establishing and reorganizing them, propose a municipal budget, and use veto power to strike down any bylaw that the mayor feels may interfere with provincial policy. Councillors can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds supermajority.
Supporters say the Act cuts red tape and helps expedite infrastructure programs, with housing being one of them. Opponents say the Act gives the mayor too much power.
The Act got royal assent in September 2022, but it only covered the mayor’s offices in Toronto and Ottawa.
The OBCM is a group of 29 Ontario mayors, or every mayor whose city has a population of at least 100,000 people.
Along with Windsor and London, the other cities added to the list are Ajax, Barrie, Brampton, Brantford, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Clarington, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, Vaughan, Waterloo, and Whitby.
