Norfolk County council to inform province it does not need robust mayor powers

Article content material

Norfolk council is once more telling the province it doesn’t need “robust mayor powers” and this time it’s not mincing phrases. 

Article content material

Coun. Kim Huffman launched a movement at a council assembly on Tuesday to ship a letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs Rob Flack and Premier Doug Ford “respectfully” declining the issuance of robust mayor powers to the municipality. 

Article content material

Advisable Movies

Article content material

However Coun. Adam Veri wished to be extra blunt.  

“Can we do away with respectfully,” he stated. “I feel we’ve already voted in opposition to it as soon as and for them to impose it on us once more, I don’t suppose we have to pussyfoot.” 

Ontario expanded, as of Might 1, robust mayor powers to the heads of council in 170 further municipalities. At a gathering earlier this month, Norfolk County clerk William Tigert stated there isn’t an choice to reject them. 

“She has the powers as of Might 1, whether or not she desires them or not,” stated Tiggert of Mayor Amy Martin. “Whether or not she chooses to make use of them or not, that’s as much as the mayor.” 

Article content material

The province says the powers permit the pinnacle of council of single- and lower-tier municipalities with councils of six members or extra to help shared provincial-municipal priorities, together with encouraging the approval of latest housing and developing and sustaining infrastructure to help housing, together with roads and transit. 

The improved powers, first launched for Toronto and Ottawa in 2022, have steadily rolled out throughout the province. 

Among the many robust mayor powers are the flexibility to nominate the municipality’s chief administrative officer; the flexibility to rent and terminate sure municipal division heads and set up and reorganize departments; the flexibility to suggest the municipal finances, which might be topic to council amendments and a separate mayoral veto and council override course of; and the flexibility to veto sure bylaws if they’re of the opinion that each one or a part of the bylaw may doubtlessly intrude with a provincial precedence. 

Article content material

In 2023, nearly all of Norfolk councillors voted in opposition to a decision committing the county to construct 5,700 houses over 10 years. To satisfy the brand new housing goal, the province provided the county about $1.5 million a 12 months for 3 years, in addition to the robust mayor powers. 

On the time,  Martin stated she was ready to delegate the entire robust mayor powers to council and senior employees. For her, the problem centred round getting extra money from the province to learn residents.  

“The aim of robust mayor powers is to construct extra houses sooner,” stated Coun. Linda Vandendriessche. “What does that should do with the opposite privileges given beneath the robust mayor coverage? We’ll do what the province desires however (they) don’t want to do that.” 

Article content material

Coun. Mike Columbus referred to as the issuance of the powers a “mockery of democracy.” 

“Why have eight elected councillors sitting across the desk should you give the facility to the mayor?” 

Huffman stated Norfolk has obtained letters from quite a few municipalities over the previous a number of weeks who need to choose out or decline the powers. 

“I additionally imagine most of our constituents don’t help robust mayor powers and I’ve been contacted by a lot of them,” stated Huffman. 

Veri stated he hopes council’s resolution will make clear the matter for the general public.  

“We already stated no as soon as as a council and it was fairly clear. Even when there was cash on the desk, we stated no and now we’re being pressured to take it. 

“We don’t need it. We by no means wished it, and we stated no once more. I hope the general public realizes this council shouldn’t be if favour of this in any respect.” 

Article content material