Strong Mayor Powers
Mayoral Powers
Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, the Mayor has the following special powers and duties as the head of Municipal Council:
- Appointing the municipality's Chief Administrative Officer.*
- Hiring certain municipal department heads and establishing and reorganizing departments.*
- Creating committees of Council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council.*
- Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a Mayoral veto and Council override process.
- Vetoing certain bylaws if the Mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
- Bringing forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.
* The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.
The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protections of Privacy Act.
| Statement from Mayor Hilda MacDonald on Strong Mayor Powers |
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As Mayor of the Municipality of Leamington, I want to take a moment to share my thoughts on the Strong Mayor powers granted by the Province of Ontario. While I truly appreciate the provincial government's implied trust in me by extending these powers to the position of Mayor, and I understand the intent, to accelerate housing development and streamline municipal governance, I believe it is important to approach these powers with care and balance. I have always been, and will continue to be, an advocate for the democratic process, one where decisions are made collaboratively and guided by the collective insight of Council. I believe that working together enables us to make decisions that best serve the needs of our residents. The authority to hire or dismiss Chief Administrative Officers and department heads, or to reorganize municipal departments, is a significant responsibility. In my view, these types of decisions should involve input from staff and Council to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term success. Our municipal budget is developed through the expertise of our senior leadership team and shaped through thoughtful, transparent discussion among all members of Council. That process ensures fiscal responsibility and balanced decision-making in the best interest of the community. I am proud to lead a Council that works well together, one that is committed to serving the common good. I also rely on a team of experienced municipal professionals who provide evidence-based advice to help inform our decisions. I value and respect their perspectives, even when they challenge my own. On key issues like housing, we have shown that collaboration delivers meaningful results. Our goal remains to continue that momentum together. At this time, I do not anticipate using the Strong Mayor powers. My focus remains on building consensus and leading through cooperation. However, if a situation arises where I feel compelled to use the Strong Mayor powers, as always, I will act in a way that reflects the best interests of the Municipality of Leamington and its residents. — Mayor Hilda MacDonald |
A public list of Mayoral decisions and directives to date are available below:
View Mayoral Decisions and Directives
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