Strong Mayor Powers

Pursuant to Part VI of the Municipal Act, 2001, it is the Mayor's role:

(a) to act as chief executive officer of the municipality;

(b) to preside over council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;

(c) to provide leadership to the council;

(c.1) without limiting clause (c), to provide information and  recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council described in clauses 224 (d) and (d.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001;

(d) to represent the municipality at official functions; and

(e) to carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act.

Bill 3 and associated regulations O. Reg. 530/22 and O. Reg. 580/22 provide the Mayor with additional powers beyond those previously set out in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Bill 3 provides the Mayor the ability to veto certain by-laws approved by Council if the Mayor "is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority."

The Mayor is required to provide written notice of the Mayor's intent to consider vetoing the by-law within a prescribed period of time.

Council may override the Mayor's veto if two-thirds of its Members vote in favour of such an override. 

Bill 3 and the associated O. Reg. 530/22 also grant the Mayor powers related to proposing the annual budget and initiating in-year budget amendments.

Under O. Reg. 530/22, the Mayor is required to propose the budget by February 1.

After the Mayor proposes the budget, Council may pass resolutions to amend the budget within 30 days. The Mayor may veto a Council budget resolution and Council may then override a Mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority vote. At the end of this process, the resulting budget is "deemed" to be adopted by the municipality.

With respect to Mayoral powers, Bill 39 amends the Municipal Act, 2001, to allow the Mayor to propose, and require Council to consider and vote on, certain by-laws related to prescribed Provincial Priorities (e.g. O. Reg. 580/22: Provincial Priorities). The by-law is considered passed if more than one-third of the Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law.