The saga over Strong Mayor Powers continues.
In September, Mayor Darrin Canniff said Chatham-Kent would meet the Ontario government’s housing target for the municipality, but turned down the offer of Strong Mayor Powers.
There was confusion about the mayor declining the powers and whether it would affect provincial funding attached to the housing targets.
Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Michael Duben said the province has now clarified that want them or not, Canniff has Strong Mayor Powers and can use them if he so chooses.
Duben said the mayor wants municipal staff to provide a report which will set out how some of those powers can be delegated to council or to the CAO.
“There are other municipalities that have gone down this route, so it’s not like we’re creating an approach from scratch,” Duben said.
Strong Mayor Powers give mayors the ability to propose housing-related bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councillors. As well, the legislation gives mayors the ability to override council approval of certain bylaws and prepare a municipal budget, instead of council.
Many people, including a number of Chatham-Kent councillors, were concerned about the democratic nature of giving an individual the powers.
The powers were given to the mayors of Ontario’s largest municipalities in an effort to allow for more housing development.
The Ontario government has set a specific housing target of 1,100 new homes to be constructed in Chatham-Kent by 2031. The municipality is eligible for funding under the new Building Faster Fund, now that council has accepted the housing target.
