Ontario plans to give mayors in Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton and Trent Hills new “strong mayor” powers starting May 1, part of a provincewide plan to speed up housing and infrastructure projects.
The move is part of the Ford government’s announcement to expand these powers to 169 additional municipalities with councils of six or more members. According to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the goal is to cut red tape and help communities build more homes faster to address Ontario’s ongoing housing crisis.
“Heads of Council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By extending strong mayor powers to these additional municipalities, we are providing mayors every tool at our disposal to empower them to get homes and infrastructure built faster. Mayors know their municipalities best, and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.”
These powers allow mayors to appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer, propose municipal budgets, veto certain bylaws, and bring forward matters aligned with provincial housing priorities. Councils will still have oversight, with checks and balances in place.
The impact on Northumberland County could be significant. Mayors will be able to direct staff resources, prioritize development approvals, and better align local efforts with the province’s housing targets.
So far, the province says strong mayor powers have helped cities like Ajax and St. Catharines unlock housing developments and infrastructure faster. Now, smaller towns like Brighton, Cobourg and Port Hope will have the same authority.
The proposal is posted for public comment on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry until April 16.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
