Letter to the Editor re. Strong Mayor Powers
Dear Editor,
Ontario Premier Ford announced on April 9 that another 169 smaller Ontario municipalities will receive strong Mayor powers on May 1. At the present time there are already 47 Ontario large cities with strong Mayor powers.
On May 1, these new strong Mayors will have the powers to ram through legislation with the support of only one-third of the councillors and to veto council bylaws. Strong Mayors will also be able to prepare and table their city’s budget instead of the council and hire and fire city department heads and the chief administrative officer (CAO). Furthermore, the Mayors with the strong powers can establish and re-organize departments, direct staff, and restructure the city committees.
It is unfortunate that the provincial government does not trust local municipal councils to make decisions in the best interest of their communities. The people elect members of Council to equally represent them.
The undemocratic strong powers for the Mayors will change how municipal councils operate and diminish the role of the duly elected council members.
This attack on local democracy and majority rule is appalling and smacks of dictatorship. Minority rule sets a dangerous precedent and has no place in our democracy.
Brian Lynch,
Cornwall ON., K6J 3Z6
