‘Strong mayor’ powers may be coming to Norfolk and Haldimand

Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin and Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley may soon have “strong mayor” powers as the government seeks to make good on its promise to build more homes.

Premier Doug Ford on Monday announced that ‘strong mayor’ powers are being extended to 21 more Ontario municipalities including Norfolk and Haldimand. The announcement brings to 49 the number of communities that could have such measures in place.

Ford made the announcement at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in London. The province is also offering $1.2 billion in incentives for cities and towns to meet housing targets.

Ford’s announcement comes as the province’s housing starts are well below what’s needed to hit the premier’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

A sharp rise in population growth is also adding pressure to the province to build, and has been cited by Ford in defense of his controversial move to open up land in protected Greenbelt areas for housing development.

“Failing to act would worsen the housing supply affordability crisis,” Ford said Monday in announcing the new fund and strong mayor powers.

“Failing to act would hurt everyone in Ontario by driving up the cost of goods and services, and by hammering new job creation and investments.

“Failing to act would threaten to erode Canadians’ unwavering support for immigration at a time when our economic success depends on welcoming skilled newcomers to fill critical labor gaps.”

Strong mayor powers – which include allowing mayors to propose housing-related bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councilors, as well as override council approval of certain bylaws and prepare their city’s budget, instead of council – have been described by critics as undemocratic.

Martin, elected mayor of Norfolk in the 2022 municipal election, is attending the AMO conference and couldn’t be immediately reached for comment on the announcement.

However, in response to a candidate questionnaire from The Reformer prior to last year’s municipal election, Martin disagreed with providing mayors with new powers in some large urban centres.

“I am not in agreement with this measure and have great fears that this could expand across the province,” Martin wrote in her submission. “I find this suggestion is under the guise of assisting with speeding up development and I can’t see how that is achieved.”

Martin said the government should look at adding additional powers to the mayor as it relates to development only by way of an additional vote or say in the planning phase.

“To allow the mayor to veto decisions of council is undemocratic,” Martin said. “To allow the mayor to hire and select fire staff only serves to fit one person’s agenda and will effectively handcuff other council members; council members that you will be electing to represent you.”

The latest expansion of “strong mayor” powers involves municipalities with populations projected to exceed 50,000 by 2031, such as Aurora, Welland and North Bay, and could put the total number of strong mayors at 49 when the new ones come into effect Oct. 31 .

A spokesperson for Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, said Norfolk County will receive strong mayor powers once the head of council – Martin – commits in writing to the county’s new assigned housing target.

Norfolk County’s housing target to 2031 is 5,700 housing starts.

Municipalities with targets will be given strong mayor powers if their head of council has committed to meeting the targets, in writing, by October 15, 2023. The municipalities would then receive strong mayor powers by October 31, 2023 and would be eligible for the Building Faster Fund.

The province had previously given strong mayor powers to the heads of 28 cities, though several of those mayors say they do not intend to use them.

Ford had previously assigned housing targets to 29 cities, but Newmarket has refused to commit to its target, so it has been left off the list of strong mayors. Monday’s 21 new additions to the strong mayor list would have to agree to their targets in order to get the new powers.

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