Essex County mayors, Windsor councillor oppose strong mayor powers

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Some local political leaders are speaking out against Ontario’s strong mayor legislation after learning the heads of all seven Essex County councils would receive enhanced powers next month.

“I’m enraged right now, and I’m livid that this is even a thing because it erodes democracy,” said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy in a video posted to Facebook on Wednesday — the same day the province announced it would extend strong mayor powers to 169 more municipal leaders effective May 1.

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“I do not want any unilateral responsibilities,” Bondy said. “It’s never been a strong mayor in our town, and I don’t want it to be. We make decisions as a group, and we share the responsibility as a group — I don’t believe it’s democratic at all.”

Bondy said she will raise a motion at the next town council meeting asking council to opt out of strong mayor powers.

“What is the point in having councils? What is the point of having elections if the mayor can veto budgets, fire staff, and just do whatever they feel is fit?

“The mayor only has one vote, and that’s the way it should be.”

Strong mayors can propose municipal budgets, propose and veto certain bylaws, appoint the city’s chief administrative officer, hire and fire certain department heads, reorganize departments, create council committees, appoint chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of council committees, and bring forward matters for council consideration.

The province said extending enhanced powers to more mayors would “help deliver on provincial priorities, such as building more homes, transit and other infrastructure across Ontario.”

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The expansion, the province said, would “help ensure municipalities have the tools they need to reduce obstacles that can stand in the way of new housing and infrastructure development.”

Ontario’s Strong Mayor, Building Homes Act, 2022 became law on Sept. 8, 2022. It initially granted enhanced powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa.

The powers were expanded through legislation to mayors of 26 more municipalities, Windsor’s Drew Dilkens included, in July 2023.

The heads of 47 municipalities in Ontario currently have enhanced powers.

On Wednesday, Windsor Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie tabled a notice of motion for consideration at city council’s next meeting to formally oppose the legislation. McKenzie considers the legislation undemocratic and has spoken out against it since its creation. His motion calls on his council colleagues to ask Ontario Premier Doug Ford to remove Windsor from its list of municipalities governed by a strong mayor.

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“The strong mayor system is fundamentally at odds with how local government should function,” said McKenzie in a written statement.

“In well-functioning local democracies, elected officials have the opportunity to work through a collaborative process focused on consensus-building at the council table. Strong mayor powers diminish the voices of councillors and, by extension, the people we represent. This motion is about restoring balance, accountability, and democratic governance at city hall.”

In response, Dilkens on Thursday said he looks forward to the debate around the council table but believes McKenzie has “missed his window of opportunity” to effect change.

“We will waste more of council’s time having a discussion that will be like sending a letter to Santa Clause,” Dilkens said. “The province is just adding 169 (strong mayors). They’re moving forward. They’re not moving backward.”

Ironically, during a visit to the region last year to announce funding for an interchange at Banwell Road and E.C. Row Expressay, Premier Ford said, “I feel like Santa Clause to this mayor,” referring to Dilkens. “I’ve given him more presents than anyone in Ontario.”

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This week, Dilkens said he “will be judged, and every mayor will be judged who uses the power based on how they use it and the decisions that they make.”

In some ways, he said, the enhanced powers have been positive.

“It’s been helpful in a number of ways, but it’s not like it’s scary legislation,” he said. “At the end of the day, a good mayor is always going to consult with their council to make sure that they’re reflecting the needs of the different wards in the city that they represent.”

Dilkens has used his strong mayor powers to terminate senior employees, propose an operating budget amendment after the budget had been adopted, and veto a council majority decision and cease tunnel bus operations, among other things.

Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, who is also Essex County’s warden, plans to “respectfully decline strong mayor powers,” which she sees as having the potential to introduce divisiveness into council.

For example, a strong mayor has the power to fire the town’s chief administrative officer, a situation that unfolded in Orillia, where Mayor Don McIsaac recently used the powers to fire the newly hired CEO before he started the job. A media report said councillors were “universally” angry with McIsaac and were “blindsided” by the decision.

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“I just feel the strong mayor power can set up inequity between council and the mayor, and I don’t believe that inequity should be there,” MacDonald said.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue said the municipality’s seven councillor members plan to meet to discuss the issue and he will raise it at council Monday.

The powers are intended to speed up development, but Amherstburg already has a lot of land approved for development, so they wouldn’t be of any help, he said.

“But other things, like the budget, are intriguing.”

Prue watched as Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has strong mayor powers, went back and forth with council to resolve their differences on the budget.

“They hammered out a deal, meeting each other halfway, and it seemed like the right thing to do,” he said.

In a statement, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara acknowledged strong mayor powers are intended to address the province’s housing shortage, but he doesn’t see it working at the town’s council.

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“I prefer a collaborative approach to facilitating housing development and will continue to work together with council and administration in achieving that,” said McNamara. “So far, this has worked well in Tecumseh, and it is my intention to continue to achieve our housing goals through this collaborative and accountable approach.”

Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey said in a release that a strong mayor position “erodes the voices of ward representatives and local democracy as a whole.”

“Council members aren’t obstacles to be overcome. They are a critical part of governance,” she said.

“Democracy, especially at the local level, is a team effort that calls us not to override or overrule, but to work together.”

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche has no intention of using strong mayor powers.

“I want to be clear — this is not a tool I intend to use,” Meloche said in email to the Star Friday.

“We’ve already been proactive in building homes, supporting critical infrastructure, and planning for long-term growth. We’re aligned with many of the same goals the province has set out, and we will continue working with them to achieve those outcomes.”

Meloche said municipalities cannot decline or opt out of being granted strong mayor powers,  but once they come into effect for LaSalle on May 1, she plans to “delegate that authority back to our CAO and council members.”

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