Strong Mayor Powers

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which took effect in May 1, 2025. These include powers to:

• Choosing to appoint the Municipality’s chief administrative officer.*
• Hiring certain municipal department heads and establishing and re-organizing departments.*
• Creating committees of Council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council.*
• Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a separate head of council veto and Council override process.
• Proposing certain municipal by-laws if the mayor is of the opinion that the proposed by-law could potentially advance a provincial priority identified in regulation. Council can pass these by-laws if more than one-third of all council members vote in favour.
• Vetoing certain by-laws if the head of Council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
• Bringing forward matters for Council consideration if the head of Council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.

The Mayor must exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.