Strong Mayors Act

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