Strong Mayor Decisions and Directions

On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that strong mayor powers were being extended to the Corporation of the Town of Goderich, 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 Town of Goderich.

Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022:

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 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. Mayoral decisions are published below. 

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

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:

Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the Mayor may veto By-Laws that they feel could interfere with provincial priorities. If they choose to exercise the veto, there is a prescribed schedule for notification and override of the veto that can delay the passing of the By-Law. To speed up the process, the Mayor may provide notice in writing as a Mayoral decision that they do not intend to exercise their veto, allowing it to come into effect using the standard process. These Decisions are listed below.

Mayoral Directions to Staff:

The Mayor also has the ability to direct staff to undertake research and provide advice on policies and programs, or implement decisions made by the Head of Council under the Act. Those directions must also be in writing and provided to the Clerk and Chief Administrative Officer. These directions are listed below.

Mayoral Declarations under Section 5.3 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act:

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires the Mayor to disclose any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, when exercising any of the powers or duties assigned to them in Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act. These directions are listed below.