‘I don’t see the merit’: Essex County mayors push back on Ford’s expanded strong mayor powers

Ontario has made the decision to expand strong mayor powers across the province. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru checks in with locals for their opinion.

The Ford government is expanding controversial “strong mayor” powers to 169 more municipalities — and several local leaders across Essex County are making it clear: they don’t want them.

The powers, first introduced in 2022, give mayors sweeping authority to override council decisions on matters tied to provincial priorities like housing, infrastructure, and transit.

They also allow heads of council to hire and fire senior staff, veto bylaws, and approve budgets with only one-third of council support.

Premier Doug Ford said the expansion — which includes most municipalities in Windsor-Essex — is meant to speed up housing construction as Ontario struggles to meet its target of 1.5 million new homes by 2031.

But a growing number of local mayors say the province is offering a solution to a problem they don’t have.

“We’ve already been proactive when it comes to building homes, supporting infrastructure, and planning for long-term growth,” LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche said in a statement.

“This is not a tool I intend to use.”

In a statement to CTV News, Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald said she would “politely decline strong mayor powers.”

The mayors of Amherstburg and Essex also say they do not support the expansion.

“I’m not going to go and hire and fire staff myself,” said Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue.

“I don’t think that’s right or fair. It’s not going to build any more houses than we’re building now. I just don’t see it.”

Windsor was granted strong mayor powers in 2023. Since then, Mayor Drew Dilkens has used them roughly 50 times — including to overturn a council decision on the Tunnel Bus and to remove city staff.

Now, Ward 9 Councillor Kieran McKenzie wants Windsor to take a stand against the powers.

He’s tabling a motion at Monday’s meeting of Windsor city council, asking the province to remove the city from the list of designated strong mayor communities.

“I think these powers have been divisive and contrary to the principles of democracy and majority rule,” McKenzie said.

He’s hoping Windsor’s stance sparks broader resistance across the province.

“Perhaps it’ll inspire other communities or municipally elected officials to move forward with the same discussion in their communities.”

In a statement, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara emphasized his preference for teamwork but did not make clear whether he would outright reject using the powers.

“I prefer a collaborative approach,” he said.

“This has worked well in Tecumseh, and it is my intention to continue to achieve our housing goals through this collaborative and accountable approach.”

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy also expressed concern, calling the powers “a potential abuse.”

Bondy, who is also preparing to raise a motion at the next Essex council meeting to formally oppose the move, said she’s “livid” the province is granting the powers to small-town mayors like herself.

“We have 21,000 people in our municipality. We have eight councillors who make decisions at our council table based on consensus and debate,” she said.

“What’s the point of having elections if the mayor can just veto budgets and fire staff?”

Bondy added she’ll also attempt to bring a similar motion forward at the next County of Essex council meeting.

CTV News did not receive a response from the mayors of Lakeshore or Kingsville before publication.

Even if mayors object, however, the province has signalled it will grant the powers anyway.

After Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff sent two letters in the fall of 2023 which said he didn’t want the powers, Queen’s Park added the municipality to the list of regions which fall under the strong mayor legislation.

Dilkens, for his part, isn’t opposed to other communities pushing back — but believes the debate is largely symbolic.

“We’re governed by the Municipal Act. The province sets the rules that govern how cities operate,” he said.

“So, this discussion [on Monday] will be like sending a letter to Santa Claus … the province is moving forward. They’re not moving backwards.”