Strong Mayor Powers

About mayoral powers and duties under the Municipal Act, 2001

Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor has the following special powers and duties as the head of Town Council:

• Appointing and dismissing the Chief Administrative Officer*
• Hiring and dismissing certain municipal department heads, and establishing and reorganizing departments*
• Creating committees of Council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs*
• Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto and a Council override process
• Vetoing certain by-laws 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
• Directing municipal staff in writing to undertake research, provide advice, or carry out duties related to the Mayoral special powers

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.

The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing, give notice to the Municipal Clerk, and make decisions and directives available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Mayoral decisions and directives to date are available below.

Mayoral decisions made under the Municipal Act, 2021

Mayoral decisions about by-laws

Mayoral directives to Town employees

Legislative Framework

Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, received Royal Assent on September 8, 2022, and came into force on November 23, 2022, which provided special powers and duties to the Mayors of the City of Toronto and the City of Ottawa. This legislation and associated regulations (O. Reg. 530/22 and O. Reg 580/22) provide certain Mayors with additional powers beyond those previously set out in the Municipal Act, 2001.

On June 16, 2023, the Ontario Government announced that the mayoral special powers and duties, as outlined in the Municipal Act, 2001, would be expanded to Mayors in 26 municipalities, effective July 1, 2023.

In August 2023, at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, the Premier of Ontario announced that 21 additional municipalities will be given Strong Mayor powers if their Mayors (or heads of council) commit in writing, by October 15, 2023, to meet their provincially assigned housing target.

On April 9, 2025, the Ontario Government announced that the mayoral special powers and duties, as outlined in the Municipal Act, 2001, would be further expanded to 169 Mayors in   municipalities, including the Town of Kirkland Lake, effective May 1, 2025.

Strong Mayor powers were assigned to Kirkland Lake’s Mayor on May 1, 2025 by O. Reg 530/22.
 
The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires the Mayor to disclose any pecuniary interest when exercising any of the powers or duties assigned the head of Council under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Mayor shall disclose the interest by filing a written statement of interest, along with its general nature, to the Municipal Clerk.

The Mayor shall not use the power or exercise the duty with respect to the matter and not use their office to attempt to influence a decision that results from consideration of the matter.