The Ontario government is set to expand the reach of strong-mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities by May 1, 2025, bringing increased mayoral authority to most of Niagara.
Currently, three cities in Niagara—St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland—have already been granted these powers. St. Catharines and Niagara Falls received them on July 1, 2023, and Welland followed suit on October 31, 2023. Under the province’s new plan, every lower-tier municipality in Niagara, with the exception of Wainfleet, will soon gain strong-mayor powers.
The move is part of the province’s strategy to accelerate the development of homes and infrastructure, particularly in municipalities where these projects align with provincial goals. Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack explained, “Heads of council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province.”
By extending strong-mayor powers to these municipalities, the province aims to equip mayors with the tools necessary to speed up local development. Flack added, “Mayors know their municipalities best, and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.”
In St. Catharines, the strong-mayor powers were recently put into action when Mayor Mat Siscoe used them to override a decision made by the city’s committee of adjustment. The committee had denied a zoning change request for parking at a proposed multi-tower complex, but Siscoe was able to bring the issue before the city council, which ultimately overturned the committee’s decision.
Under the strong-mayor framework, mayors have the authority to appoint a chief administrative officer, hire department heads, reorganize municipal departments, and propose key bylaws to advance provincial priorities. They are also tasked with proposing the municipal budget and can veto decisions that conflict with provincial goals.
With the expansion of these powers across Niagara, local mayors will gain more influence over municipal operations, which is expected to expedite development and infrastructure projects in the region.
