Strong Mayor Powers

Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, 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, Premier Ford announced that 21 additional municipalities, were to be given Strong Mayor powers if their Mayors committed in writing, to meet their provincially assigned housing target. 

On April 9, 2025, Ontario proposed to expand Strong Mayor Powers to 169 additional Municipalities, including Greenstone. Effective May 1, 2025, the Province announced that Strong Mayor Powers and duties were officially assigned to the Mayor of the Municipality of Greenstone.

About mayoral powers and duties 

Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor is able to:

• Choose to appoint or dismiss the Municipality's Chief Administrative Officer.*
• Hire and dismiss certain municipal division heads, and establish and reorganize divisions.*
• Create committees of Council, assign their functions and appoint the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees of Council.*
• Veto certain By-Laws, if they are of the opinion that all or part of the By-Law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority, such as housing, transit or infrastructure.
• Bring forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority
• Direct municipal staff in writing to undertake research, provide advice, or carry out duties related to the Mayoral special powers
• Propose the Municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a separate Mayoral Veto and Council override process.

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties under section 284.13 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Mayoral Decisions and Directives

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

Mayoral Decisions made under Municipal Act, 2001

Mayoral Decisions about By-Laws

If a By-Law is subject to Veto Powers, under Section 284.11. of the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor shall provide written notice within two days of their intention or consideration of vetoing the By-Law. The Mayor can shorten the time and provide written approval of the By-Laws passed by Council at a meeting, with his decision to not utilize the veto powers. Mayoral Decisions related to By-Laws can be found in the Council Portal Document Centre. 

Mayoral Directives to Municipal Employees