Norcross strong mayor powers

New Tecumseth, Adjala-Tos to get strong mayor powers, Essa not on the list

Posted April 9, 2025

The provincial government announced this morning the Mayors of 169 municipalities in Ontario will be bestowed with "strong powers" including Richard Norcross in New Tecumseth and Scott Anderson in Adjala Tosorontio effective May 1. Sandi Macdonald of Essa Township was not on the list.

They will join 47 other mayors including in Bradford and Innisfil, which took effect Oct. 31, 2023.

Strong mayor powers and duties include:

Choosing to appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer.
Hiring certain municipal department heads and establishing and re-organizing departments.
Creating committees of council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of council.
Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate head of council veto and council override process.
Proposing certain municipal by-laws if the mayor is of the opinion that the proposed by-law could potentially advance a provincial priority identified in regulation. Council can pass these by-laws if more than one-third of all council members vote in favour.
Vetoing certain by-laws if the head of council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
Bringing forward matters for council consideration if the head of council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.

"Heads of Council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "By extending strong mayor powers to these additional municipalities, we are providing mayors every tool at our disposal to empower them to get homes and infrastructure built faster. Mayors know their municipalities best, and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.”

Mayor Norcross told Free Press Online via text that he had not heard the provincial government's plan ahead of the press release issued this morning. He had an opportunity to accept strong mayor powers over a year ago, but at the urging of a majority of council, turned it down. It's not clear at this post whether it's an automatic change.

"I was not aware of this new legislation till it was released," said Norcross. "I am researching now and getting more info."