Strong Mayor Powers

Statement from Mayor Ian Boddy, May 2025

As of May 1, the Province of Ontario has legislatively designated Owen Sound as a "Strong Mayor" municipality—one of 170 across the province. This designation grants the Mayor additional powers, including the ability to unilaterally hire and dismiss senior staff, prepare and submit the budget, and veto by-laws that conflict with provincial priorities. 

In response, Mayor Boddy has chosen to delegate powers back to Council and the City Manager through official Mayoral Decisions, which are provided below. Council has also formally requested that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reverse its decision and immediately remove Owen Sound from the list of designated Strong Mayor municipalities.

While the Province states that the expanded powers are intended to help advance priorities such as housing, transit, and infrastructure, Owen Sound values collaborative, council-led decision-making and does not believe the strong mayor framework is appropriate or necessary for its local governance. 

"The reality is that these powers are being implemented whether municipalities want them or not. Council recognized this and used the time wisely, not to delay action, but to ensure the city is equipped to navigate the changes responsibly. In doing so, Owen Sound has positioned itself ahead of many municipalities that have yet to engage meaningfully with the operational, legal, and procedural realities these powers entail.”

-  Mayor Ian Boddy

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which took effect in May 2025. These include powers to:

• appoint and dismiss senior managers (either by the Mayor or their delegate)
• create committees of council, assign their functions, and appoint their chairs and vice-chairs (either by the Mayor or their delegate)
• propose the city’s budget (subject to council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a council override process)
• submit matters for council's consideration if the Mayor believes it supports a provincial priority
• veto bylaws if the Mayor believes it supports a provincial priority
• direct city staff in writing

The Mayor must exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.