Despite funding risk, Chatham-Kent still not interested in strong mayor powers

Thanks, but no thanks, was the message from Chatham-Kent’s mayor and council, as they reiterated they still are not interested in accepting strong mayor powers on Oct. 30.

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The matter came up during non-agenda business, when chief administrator Michael Duben said the province hadn’t formally acknowledged Chatham-Kent’s request to decline the powers, which council directed in September.

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Despite potentially leaving approximately $330,000 annually on the table, council approved a motion to reject the powers, while noting Chatham-Kent was reaffirming its commitment to the housing targets.

In order to deal with it at the meeting, a two-thirds vote was required to put the issue on the floor, as it wasn’t on the agenda.

Mayor Darrin Canniff said Chatham-Kent has been surpassing its targets so far and told council again he didn’t need the powers.

“We’re at 301 per cent of our target, this year,” he said. “Most municipalities are not meeting it.”

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Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor said she has no problem with Canniff as mayor, but had concerns about the lessened role of council when mayors have special powers, and was worried about the uncertainty if someone else was mayor in the future.

“I think I made it very clear last time, it wasn’t Mayor Canniff and my confidence in him,” she said. “It was for what future politicians might sit in that chair.”

Last fall, Ontario asked 29 of its largest and fastest-growing municipalities to submit pledges to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis and reach the provincial goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

According to a previous staff report, Chatham-Kent was not one of those 29 jurisdictions. But in June, the municipal affairs minister asked the municipality, and 21 others, to submit a pledge.

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The letter at that time acknowledged Chatham-Kent would be eligible for annual funding under the new building faster fund and receive strong mayor powers.

The powers include allowing mayors to propose housing-related bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councilors, and override council approval of zoning and other bylaws that would prevent creation of more homes.

Strong mayors also would be responsible for preparing and tabling the municipal budget, instead of council, and hiring and firing department heads.

After the meeting, Canniff said Chatham-Kent will continue to make its case for funding, saying the municipality should be eligible for it regardless.

“It’s obvious we don’t need strong mayor powers here to (meet our targets),” he said. “We clearly, as a council, said we don’t want that. Certainly, we’ll be lobbying and pleading our case to say, ‘Hang on, we’re doing a great job here.’”

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