Strong Mayor Powers

On April 9, 2025 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that strong mayor powers were being extended to the Municipality of Central Huron along with 168 additional municipalities with a council consisting of more than 6 members. As of May 1, 2025, Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, along with O.Reg. 530/22 applies to the Municipality of Central Huron.

Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. 

These include powers to: 

• Appoint and dismiss the Chief Administrative Officer;*
• Hire and dismiss various division heads (excluding the prescribed list);*
• Establish prescribed committees of Council, assign their functions, and appoint the Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees of a Council;*
• A prescribed committee consists solely of members of Council;
• Propose the Municipality's annual budget subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a Council override process; 
  • Duty to prepare the budget and present it to Council before February 1. If the annual budget is not presented to Council before February 1, the duty to prepare the annual budget reverts to Council for that year; 
• Submit matters for Council's consideration, or veto by-laws, if the Mayor believes it will advance a prescribed Provincial Priorities;
  • Building 1.5 million new residential units by December 31, 2031. 
  • Constructing and maintaining infrastructure to support housing, including transit, roads, utilities and servicing. 
• Direct Municipal Staff in writing. 

The powers and duties of the Mayor are further described in O.Reg. 530/22 and O.Reg. 580/22

* The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties 

The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection and Privacy Act. Any decisions or directions made under the Act will be posted below. 

Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022

The Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, received Royal Assent on December 8, 2022. Regarding Mayoral powers, this legislation amends the Municipal Act , 2001, to allow the Mayor to propose, and require Council to consider and vote on, certain by-laws related to prescribed Provincial Priorities (O.Reg. 580/22: Provincial Priorities). The by-law is considered passed if more than one-third of the Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law.  

Mayoral Decisions and Directives 

Mayoral decisions and directives made pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001