The Ontario government has announced plans to expand strong mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities, with Port Hope set to receive these new authorities beginning May 1, 2025.
The expanded powers aim to help local governments move more quickly on priorities like housing and infrastructure by allowing mayors to appoint senior staff, shape municipal budgets, reorganize departments, and veto certain bylaws. The province said the changes are meant to cut red tape and fast-track development across Ontario.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky responded to the announcement by reaffirming her commitment to community collaboration and transparency.
“As mayor, my top priority is always to advocate at every level of government for the best interests of our community,” said Hankivsky, in a statement. “While I fully support the provincial focus on housing, infrastructure improvements, and growth for Port Hope, I believe we can achieve these objectives within our existing organisational structure.”
Strong mayor powers were first introduced in Toronto and Ottawa in 2022 and have since expanded to 47 municipalities. The new list, open for public comment until April 16, proposes expanding these authorities to lower- and single-tier municipalities with six or more council members.
In response, municipal staff in Port Hope have submitted a report to council, which is set for discussion on April 15. Staff are currently reviewing the legislative framework to understand its scope and operational impact and plan to update council on any necessary changes to procedures, training, or governance.
More information on the proposed regulation is available on the Ontario Regulatory Registry.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)