On May 1, 2025 the mayor of Wilmot Township, along with mayors in 168 other Ontario municipalities were granted strong mayor powers and duties under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022.
Background
Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, came into force on November 23, 2022. The Act initially applied to the City of Toronto and City of Ottawa but was expanded to other large and growing cities across Ontario on October 31, 2023 under O. Reg 331/23.
In April 2024, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing proposed amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 under the Municipal Act, 2001 to expand the list of municipalities where the Head of Council has strong mayor powers and duties, to include certain single-tier and lower-tier municipalities with a council composition size of six members or more, to help these municipalities move forward on shared provincial-municipal priorities (O.Reg 580/22).
This list included the Township of Wilmot and 168 other Ontario municipalities. This came into force and effect on May 1, 2025.
Strong Mayor Powers and Duties
Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor has special powers and duties including the ability to:
- Appoint the municipality's Chief Administrative Officer*
- Hire, dismiss, or exercise any other prescribed employment powers with respect to certain municipal employees*
- Determine the organization structure of the municipality*
- Create Committees of Council, assign their functions and appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council.*
- Propose the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a Mayoral veto and Council override process.
- Veto certain by-laws if the Mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
- Bring forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.
* The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.
