Bracebridge Mayor gets Strong Mayors power

Strong Mayors Power gives authority to the mayor to override council in certain cases

Bracebridge Director of Corporate Services/Clerk, Lori McDonald, announced that the Strong Mayor Powers Act is in effect for Bracebridge, in the May 6, 2025, Committee meeting.

According to McDonald, the provincial government gradually implemented the new legislation to several municipalities across the province since 2022, and added 170 more designated municipalities, including Bracebridge, on May 1st.

She explained that the goal of the new legislation is “to achieve provincial housing targets.”

The Act allows mayors special powers and duties, including procedural rules for identifying and implementing Provincial Priorities, added McDonald.

She said that the goal of the provincial government is “1.5 million residential units by December 2031,” including the construction of infrastructure, roads, utilities and services to support it.

New authority granted to the mayor includes directing municipal employee’s duties, appointing or dismissing the CAO, determining the municipal organizational structure, appointing chairs of local boards, establishing or dissolving committees, requiring Council to consider matters in favour of the Provincial Priority, and the ability to veto By-laws that interfere with the new Act, including those related to planning or development charges.

McDonald added that Council can override a mayor veto with two thirds (6) of members votes.

She continued that the mayor also has the authority to introduce a new By-law in support of advancing the Provincial Policy. However, this would require a minimum of one third (or 4) members.

The new legislation also requires that each year the mayor will be responsible for preparing the new budget on or before February 1^st and present it to staff and Council, who can amend it within 30 days.

Mayor, Rick Maloney, said that he was surprised to see the additional 170 municipalities added to the new legislation.

Maloney said, “To work collaboratively regarding issues and challenges won’t change. To bring our thoughts, ideas and decision making to this table, that won’t change.”

He added the Town has always governed itself by “working towards collaboration and consensus.”

He continued that he will continue to work with staff and Council “for decision making processes,” including for budgets, and “gain full confidence of the community in the decision-making process.”

Councillor, Tatiana Sutherland, suggested that the changes may impair the Town’s ability to recruit staff and Council members, in addition to “reducing the strength of individual Councillors.”

“There are major alarm bells ringing here,” she said.

McDonald advised, “I’m not aware of any particular issues,” given that the legislation has been in effect for years in other municipalities and agreed to investigate it further.

She also explained that that the current structure of the Town will remain in place, including having the CAO as the Council employee. She added, “Bracebridge has a really solid organizational structure” and they can continue to rely on that and other policies they have in place, in addition to seeking guidance from the mayor about particular issues.

Councillor, Archie Buie, expressed concern about the potential of smaller municipalities having people running for the mayor position “with an agenda.” He suggested that the new legislation “would allow them to exercise it… It can be other than a provincial mandate and be a personal one instead.”

McDonald reiterated that the legislation “has been around for a while,” and with the goal to support the Provincial Position, and information is monitored by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and they can work through the process as it stands, which can continue to evolve and “may be of great benefit and assistance.”

Maloney suggested that as they understand the legislation better, they can weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

He recommended, “We don’t overreact, we don’t underreact. My goal, my focus is status quo… allow time to understand it better and not do a knee jerk reaction because it’s been in place for years with other municipalities.”