Effective July 1, 2023, the Province announced that Strong Mayor Powers will be extended beyond the City's of Toronto and Ottawa to 26 additional municipalities - Niagara Falls included. These changes are being put in place to support the Province's priority and commitment to increasing the provincial housing supply by 1.5 million homes by December 31, 2031. These tools will also help cut red tape and speed up the delivery of key shared municipal-provincial priorities such as transit and infrastructure.
Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022
The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
These include powers to:
- Appoint and dismiss the Chief Administrative Officer;
- Hire and dismiss various division heads (excluding the prescribed list);
- Establish prescribed committees of Council, assign their functions, and appoint the Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees of Council'
- A prescribed committee consists solely of members of Council;
- Propose the Municipality's annual budget subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a Council override process;
- Budget shall be prepared on or before February 1st. If not, Council shall prepare and adopt the budget;
- Submit matters for Council's consideration, or veto by-laws, if the Mayor believes it will advance a prescribed Provincial Priority; and
- Direct Municipal Staff (in writing).
The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Mayoral decisions will be available online.
The powers and duties of the Mayor are further described in O. Reg. 530/22 and O. Reg. 590/22.
Details of Mayoral Decisions & Directives
- Mayoral Directive to Staff - 2024 Budget
- Mayoral Decision - November 14, 2023 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - November 28, 2023 (Special Council Meeting) by-laws
- Mayoral Decision - December 12, 2023 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - January 16, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - January 23, 2024 Budget
- Mayoral Decision - February 6, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - February 27, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - March 5, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - March 19, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - April 9, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - April 30, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - May 28, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - June 18, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - August 13, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - September 10, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - October 1, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Directive to Staff - 2025 Budget
- Mayoral Decision - October 22, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - November 12, 2024 By-laws
- Mayoral Decision - November 26, 2024 By-laws