Human Resources Legislative Update
Municipalities Take Note: Ontario Regulation Expanding Strong Mayor Powers Comes into Effect
Date: July 12, 2023
The Ontario government has announced it is expanding strong mayor powers to 26 additional municipalities in the province. The province originally granted strong mayoral powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa with the passing of Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 (Bill 3) on September 8, 2022 and the coming into force of O. Reg. 529/22 and O. Reg. 530/22 on November 23, 2022. (For further details on Bill 3, O. Reg. 529/22 and O. Reg. 530/22, please see our Human Resources Legislative Updates of August 12, 2022, Municipalities Take Note: Ontario Introduces Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 and November 25, 2022, Municipalities Take Note: Ontario Introduces Better Municipal Governance Act and Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act Regulations.)
The amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 expand the list of municipalities granted strong mayor powers and duties to include certain single-tier and lower-tier municipalities that have committed to housing priorities proposed by the province. A complete list of the 26 municipalities can be found in the regulation amending O. Reg. 530/22.
The amendments also contain new provisions related to filling a vacancy in the office of the head of a municipal council.
The amendments came into effect on July 1, 2023. Additional amendments to designate other municipalities may be made in the future.
Should you have any questions or require more information about how these changes may impact your municipality, please contact your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
