Local mayors getting expanded powers

The mayors of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Brantford are among 26 municipal leaders across the province that will soon be granted strong mayor powers.

The mayors of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Brantford are among 26 municipal leaders across the province that will soon be granted strong mayor powers.

The legislation gives mayors expanded powers, including the ability to veto bylaws that conflict with provincial priorities like building more housing.

Housing Minister Steve Clark made the announcement Friday morning after a meeting with Ontario’s Big City Mayors at Queen's Park.

The change will take effect July 1.

“It's all around ensuring that those mayors have the tools to ensure that they meet their obligations,” Clark said, specifically pointing to the province’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

The move is designed to cut red-tape and speed up the delivery of municipal-provincial priorities such as housing, transit and infrastructure, Clark said.

Toronto and Ottawa were given strong mayor powers as part of Bill 39, also known as the Better Municipal Governance Act, late last year.