Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland says strong mayor powers should only be used when absolutely necessary as Ontario prepares to extend the authority to 169 more municipalities — including Cobourg — on May 1.
The Ford government says the move aims to fast-track housing and infrastructure projects, giving heads of council more direct control in municipalities with at least six members of council.
Cleveland says while the change represents an incredible opportunity for Cobourg existing governance structures shouldn’t be overlooked.
The expanded powers allow mayors to appoint the chief administrative officer, shape municipal budgets, veto bylaws, and direct staff on provincially aligned priorities. Council members still maintain oversight, with mechanisms in place to challenge or overturn decisions.
Cleveland says the powers are valuable for communities struggling to meet provincial and federal housing targets — though he believes Cobourg is already meeting those expectations.
In Northumberland County, the powers will also apply to Port Hope, Brighton and Trent Hills. The province says similar powers have already helped cities like Ajax and St. Catharines speed up development approvals and break ground on infrastructure.
As for how he plans to use the new tools, Cleveland says they are another tool for the toolkit.
The public can comment on the proposal on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry until April 16.
Cleveland says Cobourg council remains focused on collaboration and he expects any use of the new powers to be transparent and in line with public interest.