Ontario expands strong mayor powers to Hamilton, Halton, Niagara regions

Ontario has announced an expansion of strong mayor powers to 26 municipalities on Friday.

Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington, Milton, Oakville, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines are among those included in the expansion that provides mayors with extra powers that is set to take effect July 1.

The other included municipalities are Ajax; Barrie; Brampton; Caledon; Cambridge; Clarington; Guelph; Kingston; Kitchener; London; Markham; Mississauga; Oshawa; Pickering; Richmond Hill; Vaughan; Waterloo; Whitby; and Windsor.

The powers allow mayors to veto bylaws that conflict with provincial priorities. Council can override a mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

It also gives the mayor the power to hire and dismiss senior managers and gives them stewardship over city budgets.

READ MORE: Law supporting ‘strong mayor’ powers passed in Toronto, Ottawa

The Ford government had indicated that it was looking to expand strong mayor powers beyond Toronto and Ottawa.

In December, Ontario passed legislation allowing Toronto and Ottawa to enact specific bylaws even if a minority of councillors are in favour. It was initially enacted to speed up the process of building homes and the expansion is set to do the same.

Each of the 26 mayors newly granted strong powers have submitted a housing pledge to help meet the Ontario government plan to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

The newly granted powers can only be used to support set provincial priorities, such as addressing the housing crisis.

Former Toronto Mayor John Tory supported the powers, while Ottawa council voted to oppose the bill.

READ MORE: Voter apathy concerns loom over Toronto election days ahead of vote