Office of the Mayor

Strong mayor powers intend to streamline local governance for municipal leadership offering resources to the head of council to help advance shared municipal-provincial priorities, primarily around housing, infrastructure, and economic growth.

Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001 the Mayor has the following powers and duties as the head of Council:

• Appointing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), hiring select municipal department heads, and establishing or reorganizing municipal departments.

• Creating Council committees, assigning their responsibilities, and appointing committee chairs and vice-chairs.

• Proposing the annual municipal budget, subject to Council review, amendment, a potential Mayoral veto, and a subsequent Council override process.

• Vetoing specific bylaws if, in the Mayor’s opinion, they may interfere with a provincial priority.

• Introducing matters for Council consideration that, in the Mayor’s view, could help advance a provincial priority.

The Mayor may delegate certain powers and duties by issuing a written statement as an official act. However, some powers are non-delegable and may, in some cases must, be exercised directly by the Mayor.

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 Protections of Privacy Act. A public listing of Mayoral Decisions and Directions is available in the chart below.