Niagara Falls top politician likely to get ‘strong mayor’ powers from government

After ‘strong mayor’ powers were granted to Ottawa’s and Toronto’s mayors last fall, it seems highly likely that Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati will receive them this morning (June 16).

Niagara Falls was the only Niagara regional municipality mentioned out of Queen’s Park as rumours swirl that Hamilton, Oakville and Milton were the other GTA-Golden Horseshoe cities up for the additional powers.

However, according to Queen’s Park reporters, there could be as many as 29 municipalities that will be getting the ‘strong mayor’ designations as Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, will be making an announcement this morning at 10:45 am.

In a typical ‘strong mayor’ system, the elected mayor is granted almost total administrative authority with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads. In such a system, the mayor’s administrative staff prepares the city budget, although that budget usually must be approved by the council.

Ontario’s new strong mayors can use their new powers only to veto and pass bills for the purpose of advancing “provincial priorities.” For Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives, these priorities are to build as much housing as possible, as fast as possible.