Whereas the Province of Ontario initially introduced Strong Mayor Powers in 2022 with the stated intent of expediting housing development across municipalities; and
Whereas the Province of Ontario arbitrarily expanded the Strong Mayor Powers legislation to include an additional 170 municipalities in April 2025; and
Whereas municipalities across Ontario have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the housing crisis through local planning approvals and community-led solutions; and
Whereas Strong Mayor Powers fundamentally alter local democratic governance by concentrating decision-making authority in a single individual, thereby weakening the role of elected Councils and disrupting the principles of collaboration and shared leadership; and
Whereas these powers can create uncertainty within municipal organizations, impact staff morale, and risk eroding the trust that underpins effective municipal governance; and
Whereas there are currently no provincial checks and balances or independent oversight mechanisms in place to ensure Strong Mayor Powers are being used appropriately and as intended, and the legislation itself has been described by some as “open to interpretation,” creating a fundamental flaw in the responsible application of these potentially dangerous powers; and
Whereas the primary barriers to housing construction are not rooted in municipal decision-making processes, but in broader market conditions, infrastructure constraints, and the lack of effective provincial and federal policy supports to stimulate affordable and attainable housing development;
Therefore be it resolved that the Council of the Town of Orangeville formally request the Province of Ontario to rescind the Strong Mayor Powers legislation in its entirety; and
That should the legislation not be repealed, that the Province immediately remove the Town of Orangeville from the list of municipalities designated under the Strong Mayor Powers framework; and
That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all Ontario municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada for their information, support and consideration.