Strong Mayor Powers

Strong Mayor Powers are authorities granted by the Province of Ontario under provincial legislation that apply to certain municipalities, including the Town of Halton Hills. On October 31, 2023, the Ontario government expanded Strong Mayor Powers to Halton Hills through Ontario Regulation 530/22.

These powers provide the Mayor with specific responsibilities and authorities beyond those typically held by members of Council and are intended to support provincial priorities such as housing, transit, infrastructure, and economic growth. The powers are established by the Province and must be exercised in accordance with legislative requirements.

What are strong Mayor powers?

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. These include powers to:

• Appoint the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer;*

• Hire certain municipal department heads and establish and reorganize departments;*

• 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 believes that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority; and

• Bring forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor believes that consideration of the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.

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 (MFIPPA).  Mayoral decisions are available for viewing in the table below.