Strong Mayor Powers

On April 9, 2025, the Province of Ontario announced that Strong Mayor Powers will be extended to 169 additional municipalities - Township of Severn included. This will come into effect May 1, 2025.

Strong mayor powers offer resources to heads of council to quicken the implementation of key shared municipal-provincial priorities, such as building more homes, transit, roads, and other infrastructure.

These changes are being put in place help deliver on provincial priorities and are detailed under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Overview of powers and duties

Strong mayor powers and duties include:

• appointing the municipal chief administrative officer (CAO) and other non-statutory department heads and restructuring departments unilaterally*
• creating new identified committees and appointing chairs and vice-chairs of identified committees and local boards, and to change the make-up of committees*
• proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a separate Mayoral veto and Council override process
• proposing certain municipal by-laws if the Mayor is of the opinion that the proposed by-law could potentially advance a provincial priority
• vetoing certain by-laws if the Mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority
• bringing forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority
• direct Township staff in writing

*The Mayor may choose to delegate certain powers and duties.

The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing and give notice to the Clerk and/or Chief Administrative Officer. These decisions are made available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). A public listing of Mayoral decisions and directions will be available on this page as decisions are made.