Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act

The Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act is a statute in Ontario that grants extra powers to the Mayor of Toronto and the Mayor of Ottawa within their mayor–council governments.

Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Territorial extentOntario, province-wide
Royal assentSeptember 8, 2022
Introduced byMinister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark
Related legislation
Municipal Act
Status: In force

Powers granted

The Act grants the Mayors of Toronto and Ottawa direct control over:[1][2]

  • Drafting of the city budgets
  • The appointments and dismissals of their city managers and department leaders (except police chiefs, fire chiefs, or auditors general)
  • Vetoes over laws that may conflict with provincial priorities, which may be overturned if a supermajority of two-thirds of city councillors voted to do so
  • The creation and reorganisation of municipal administrative departments

Reactions

John Tory, the mayor of Toronto at the time, expressed appreciation for the powers granted to him under the act.[1]

All five living former Toronto mayors, David Crombie, David Miller, Barbara Hall, Art Eggleton and John Sewell, wrote a letter to Tory describing the new powers as an "attack" on local democracy and majority rule.[3] The Ford government defended the new powers by pointing out the mayor's "city-wide mandate", having received more votes than the rest of council.[4]

Outgoing Ottawa mayor Jim Watson deemed the powers unnecessary, also opining that "if they have to gather up two-thirds of their members to overturn a mayor's decision that's not really democratic at all." Mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney criticised the reforms as "undemocratic."[5]

Former Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina expressed support for the powers. Andrea Horwath, a mayoral candidate, opposed the powers.[6]

Bonnie Crombie, mayor of Mississauga has voiced opposition to the Act.

Further developments

Premier Doug Ford has promised similar powers to the mayors of other cities in Ontario for 2023.[7]

References
  1. "How will Toronto and Ottawa's new 'strong mayor' powers work?". CBC. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  2. The Canadian Press (October 17, 2022). "Strong mayor powers coming to more large Ontario cities in a year, Ford says - CBC News". CBC News. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  3. "Former mayors of Toronto pen letter to Mayor John Tory, urging him to reject strong-mayor powers". thestar.com. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  4. "Why did John Tory get more 'strong-mayor' powers? Because of his 'city-wide mandate,' Ford government argues". thestar.com. 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  5. "'A solution looking for a problem': Ottawa's mayor says 'strong mayor' powers not needed". CTV News. August 10, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  6. "Hamilton candidates split on 'strong mayor' powers". thespec.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  7. "Doug Ford says he'll extend strong-mayor powers beyond Toronto and Ottawa next year". The Toronto Star. October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
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