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STRATFORD VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 18
APRIL 18, 2025
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Ontario government proposes expansion of strong mayor powers to 169 more municipalities GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
The Government of Ontario is continuing to bolster the unilateral decision-making powers of mayors across the province with a proposal to expand strong mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities effective May 1, including Stratford. In 2022, through changes to the Municipal Act, strong mayor powers were first granted to the heads of councils in Toronto and Ottawa, and then to mayors in 48 additional municipalities in 2023. Though several municipalities declined the enhanced mayoral powers, a total of 47 mayors in Ontario now have these strong mayor powers. “Heads of council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province,” said Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack in a press release announcing the latest proposed expansion. “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.” Strong mayor powers include the ability to appoint a municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO), hire certain municipal department heads and reorganize CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Liberal candidate David Mackey, Conservative candidate John Nater, New Democrat candidate Kevin Kruchkywich, and People’s Party of Canada candidate Wayne Baker gather for a debate on April 15 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.
Local federal election candidates agree, but mostly disagree, in Stratford debate
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With the federal election in the home stretch now, the local race here in Perth-Wellington is heating up. The four candidates in the riding went head-to-head on the debate stage at the Stratford Rotary Complex on April 15. David Mackey of the Liberal Party, John Nater of the Conservative Party, Kevin Kruchkywich of the New Democratic Party (NDP), and Wayne Baker of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) were invited by the Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce to participate. Kicking it off, Aaron Martin, general manager of the chamber, asked the candidates if they support the construc-
tion of a trans-Canada pipeline. Mackey, Nater, and Baker were all in favour, though Mackey clarified that it would have to be done in consultation with the provinces. Kruchkywich, on the other hand, said it is important “not to go backwards” and to invest in a “new green economy” rather than the oil industry. Later in the evening, when the topic of curbing greenhouse gas emissions was brought up, Nater said that farmers across Canada, and in particular the local community, were already doing the hard work to be more sustainable, though hardly get the recognition for their efforts. “If you look at the statistics for the agriculture community, they on their own have lowered their intensity. They CONTINUED TO PAGE 3