Mayor's Message - August 2022

The municipal election is around the corner with election day on October 24, 2022.  Halton Hills will be electing a new mayor, as you know, after 19 years on the job I am not seeking re-election.  While mayors and councillors and new candidates are actively campaigning across the province, the premier made an announcement that should be of interest to you.

Premier Doug Ford suggested that the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa and possibly other major Ontario cities (for example, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton) would be granted more powers, including the ability to veto council decisions. This would put these mayors with US-style mayor powers that you often see in the movies.

To be fair, the devil is in the details. Mark my words, if this idea comes to fruition there will be a trickle-down effect because other mayors will want the same power granted to their colleagues. As mayor, I have always been a consensus builder with my council colleagues. You get more accomplished with a collaborative approach. Some mayors may have a more dictatorial style if they are granted these powers.  I am totally against this concept. Doing so, in my opinion, is a move away from a democratic process.

The system in place now is that each councillor has one vote and they can advocate for their wards equally. I bet many mayors would love more power. To me, it would be the worst thing that could happen to local municipal government. The role of the mayor under the Municipal Act is to provide leadership, preside over meetings, advocate for their communities to other higher levels of government, support council and staff on initiatives, etc. At the end of the day a mayor has only one vote the same as their council colleagues as it should be.

After two years the Rock’n Roll’n Classics Car Show is back! They are celebrating their 21st anniversary on Friday, August 26 starting at 5 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Georgetown. There will be a 50/50 raffle in support of the Georgetown Hospital and door prizes and awards for car owners.  I hope you will have a chance to drop by and support this very popular event.