Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, came into force on November 23, 2022.

This legislation and associated regulations, O. Reg. 530/22 and O. Reg. 580/22 and O. Reg. 180/23 amend the Municipal Act, 2001 to provide the Mayor with additional powers beyond those previously set out in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Bill 3 provides the Mayor, as the head of Council, with the ability to veto certain by-laws approved by Council if the Mayor “is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority.” The Mayor is required to provide written notice of intent to consider vetoing the by-law within a prescribed time period. Council may override the Mayor’s veto if two-thirds of Members vote in favour of such an override.

Bill 3 and the associated regulations also grant the Mayor, as head of Council, powers related to proposing the annual budget and initiating in-year budget amendments. The Mayor is required to propose the budget by February 1. After the Mayor proposes the budget, Council can pass resolutions to amend the budget within 30 days. The Mayor may veto a Council budget resolution and Council may then override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority vote. At the end of this process, the resulting budget is “deemed” to be adopted by the City.

Under the new legislation, the Mayor's powers include:

• appointing and dismissing the Chief Administrative Officer as well as various senior managers;
• appointing Chairs/Vice-chairs for “prescribed committees, or committees within a prescribed class of committees,” and establishing or dissolving such prescribed committees;
• bringing matters forward for Council consideration if the Mayor “is of the opinion that considering a particular matter could potentially advance a prescribed provincial priority”;
• vetoing certain by-laws approved by Council if the Mayor “is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority”;
• proposing and preparing the municipal budget; and
• directing City staff in writing.

Limitation

The powers assigned under the new legislation do not include the power to hire, dismiss or exercise any other prescribed employment powers with respect to any of the following persons:

• the clerk or deputy clerk.
• a treasurer or deputy treasurer.
• an Integrity Commissioner.
• an Ombudsman.
• an Auditor General.
• a registrar, as described in section 223.11.
• a chief building official, as defined in the Building Code Act, 1992.
• a chief of police, as defined in the Police Services Act.
• a fire chief, as defined in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.
• a medical officer of health, as defined in the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
• other officers or heads of divisions required to be appointed under this or any other Act.
• any other prescribed persons.

Bill 39, Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022

Bill 39, the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, came into force on December 8, 2022. With respect to Mayoral powers, Bill 39 amends the Municipal Act, 2001, to allow the Mayor to propose, and require Council to consider and vote on, a by-law related to prescribed Provincial Priorities (e.g. O. Reg. 580/22: Provincial Priorities). The by-law is considered passed if more than one third of Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law.