‘Totally disrespectful’: Orillia’s council calls on province to rescind strong mayor powers

Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac was sworn in Nov. 21, 2022 (CTV NEWS/KRAIG KRAUSE)

Orillia mayor Don McIsaac’s strong mayor powers might be short lived.

On Monday, city council voted 7-2, calling on the province to rescind the powers granted to McIsaac last week, after four councillors wrote an open letter prior to the meeting, calling the powers “unnecessary” and “undemocratic.”

The letter, authored by councillors David Campbell, Janet-Lynne Durnford, Jay Fallis and Tim Lauer, came after McIsaac utilized his new powers to rescind the hiring of its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) from Guelph before he started the job, in favour of promoting the city’s current deputy CAO to the role.

“This act, to me, has been totally disrespectful of council, totally disrespectful to the residents of Orillia,” said Coun. Lauer on Monday.

The mayor and Coun. Whitney Smith were the only two to vote against the motion.

While the province initially introduced the powers under its Building Homes Act three years ago to help mayors with housing, Mayor McIsaac defended the powers, citing the reason to expedite decision making was crucial as the city still reels from the ice storm emergency.

“Any decisions that I’ve made, as mayor, even with or without strong mayor powers, have been made for the safety, the security and the well-being of residents, there’s no exception to that,” the mayor said.

But during the debate, the meeting became tense and at times, heated, as the mayor defended the powers.

Councillor Jeff Czetwerzuk asked the mayor why he reversed course on strong mayor powers when he and council publicly stated they were against it several weeks ago.

“I’m not sure where you were for the last week, but we did have an emergency,” stated the mayor.

After the motion was passed, staff stated that a copy of the resolution would be sent to the province immediately for review.