Ontario pushed strong mayor powers despite predominantly negative feedback from public
The province expanded powers to 170 more municipalities even as consultations showed residents found the system unnecessary and undemocratic.
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Ontario expanded strong mayor powers to 170 communities on May 1, 2025, despite receiving "predominantly negative" feedback from the public during consultations.
Civil servants summarized 769 responses to the proposal, finding that residents called the powers "unnecessary," "undemocratic," and "inappropriate for small municipalities." The government was already aware of public concerns from media coverage and had received calls for municipalities to be able to opt out of the framework.
The powers give mayors control over budgets and appointments, the ability to hire and fire some city staff, vetoes over some council votes, and the ability to pass some bylaws with support of only a third of council. The province first introduced them in 2022 for Toronto and Ottawa only, then granted them to 26 more communities the following year. The powers have now been expanded to 216 municipalities total.
Premier Doug Ford originally said he introduced the powers to help address Ontario's housing crisis and reach the target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031. But opposition critics say the powers have failed to produce the needed housing while sowing division on municipal councils. NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch said the government should be reassessing the framework instead of expanding it.
