Don’t expand so-called “strong mayor” powers to smaller municipalities, including Guelph. It's unnecessary and could negatively impact city operations.
That’s the message city council unanimously agreed to send the provincial government on Wednesday evening in response to new abilities granted to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa – something Premier Doug Ford has stated could be expanded to other municipalities.
“It’s not a power I believe we need. City council has always been one of collaboration,” commented Mayor Cam Guthrie. “To allege that a mayor knows everything about every single issue in every single corner of the city is completely unfounded.
“A strong mayor initiative depletes the value of a councillor.”
Known as the “Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act," the recently approved legislation provides Toronto and Ottawa mayors veto powers over some bylaws and council decisions, as well as responsibility for proposing and approving municipal budgets.
It also gives them the ability to appoint a chief administrative officer, in addition to the hiring and firing of department heads (except for positions such as police or fire chief). Additionally, “strong mayors” have the authority to appoint chairs and vice-chairs to local committees and boards.
The legislation is the “greatest threat” to democracy since he took office two terms ago, stated Coun. James Gordon who brought the motion forward for council’s consideration. He’s not running for re-election this fall.
“Councillors can really speak for their constituents on an immediate and an effective level,” he said of the current structure – something he fears would be eliminated under a strong mayor. “In the wrong hands this power could be very dangerous and not in the best interests of the community.”
Gordon said the strong mayor concept was born in the United States in an effort by the Republican Party to “circumvent what they viewed as progressive councillors who are following a community-based agenda, not a corporatized one.”
All non-government MPPs, including Guelph’s Mike Schreiner, voted against the bill, with Progressive Conservatives in favour. It passed 74-31.
The goal, Ford previously explained, is to help issues considered a provincial priority to move forward faster, such as affordable housing projects, public transit, highways and other infrastructure.
“Concentrating power at the top will do little to address the housing crisis,” Schreiner tweeted. “We need urgent action to end exclusionary zoning, make fourplexes as of right and increase govt $ into affordable and supportive housing.”
Under the current system, the mayor has one vote on council, with bylaws, budgets and more approved with support from a majority of council.
Under the new rules, a mayor’s veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of council. In the case of Guelph, that means nine of 13 votes (12 councillors and a mayor).
As delegate Lin Grist pointed out, the legislation says “absolutely nothing” about building affordable housing. Rather, she referred to it as a series of “egregious power grabs” that are “profoundly undemocratic.”
“It’s an assault on local democracy,” mayoral candidate Danny Drew said of the bill. “Developers’ profits rates are directly impacted by council decisions, so in this context the strong mayor legislation is even more concerning. It will be wealthy people with the deepest pockets who will fund candidates who will serve their interests with these increased powers.”
City CAO Scott Stewart worries the strong mayor format would negatively impact city operations.
“I am deeply concerned about maintaining the neutrality of the public service.”
The Guelph council motion follows in the footsteps of one passed by the Town of Kingsville council and circulated to other municipal councils for consideration.
