Mayoral Powers

On April 9, 2025 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that strong mayor powers were being extended to the Township of Huron-Kinloss along with 168 additional municipalities with a council consisting of more than 6 members. As of May 1, 2025, Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, along with O.Reg. 530/22 applies to the Township of Huron-Kinloss.

Provincial Priorities

Legislative Framework

Mayoral Decisions

Powers and Duties

Prescribed Provincial Priorities

As of May 2025, the Provincial Priorities are as follows:

• Building 1.5 million new residential units by December 31, 2031.
• Constructing and maintaining infrastructure to support housing, including: transit, roads, utilities, and servicing.

Legislative Framework

Strong Mayor Powers are a set of authorities granted by the Province of Ontario under Ontario Regulation 530/22, Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. These powers are designed to help mayors more effectively advance provincial priorities such as housing, infrastructure, and economic development.

For municipalities designated under this regulation, including the Township of Huron-Kinloss, the Mayor is provided with additional tools to:

Direct municipal staff to carry out specific functions.
Appoint the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and certain department heads.
Prepare and present the municipal budget.
Veto by-laws passed by Council that are inconsistent with provincial priorities, subject to an override by a two-thirds Council vote.

These powers aim to support efficient governance and alignment with key provincial initiatives. While Council continues to play a critical legislative and oversight role, the Mayor now holds greater responsibility for driving strategic decisions that affect the future of our community.

Appoint/dismiss the Chief Administrative Officer; *
Hire/dismiss or exercise any other prescribed employment powers with respect to Township staff; *
Establish or dissolve committees comprised solely of Members of Council, assign the committee’s functions, and appoint the Chairs and Vice Chairs; *
Prepare and propose the Township's budget, subject to possible Council amendments, and the Mayor’s ability to veto such amendments, which are subject to an override process that may be accomplished by two-thirds of the Council;
Require Council to consider matters that could potentially advance a prescribed provincial priority;
Require Council to consider and vote on a by-law that in the Mayor’s opinion could potentially advance a prescribed provincial priority and such by-law is deemed to be passed if more than one third of the Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law;
Veto by-laws, if in the opinion of the Mayor, such by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority; and,
Direct Township staff, in writing, to undertake research and provide advice to the Mayor and the municipality, on policies and programs as they relate to the Mayor’s powers and duties under Part VI.1, and direct staff to carry out such duties and implement any decisions made by the Mayor.

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.

Date	Decision #	Subject Matter
May 1, 2025	MD-2025-01	Establish prescribed Committees

Prescribed Provincial Priorities

Legislative Framework

Resources

Council Reports

Resources