Owen Sound Chooses Collaboration Over Strong Mayor Powers

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, the Mayor has chosen to delegate powers back to Council and the City Manager through official Mayoral Decisions, which will be published on the May 12 Council Agenda. 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. 

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca

Quotes:

"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

Quick Facts:

• In Ontario, 47 municipalities currently have strong mayor powers, many of which were granted in 2023.
• As of May 1, 2025, an additional 170 municipalities have access to Strong Mayor Powers.

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