Strong Mayor Powers

The Ontario government has expanded strong mayor powers to an additional 169 municipalities across Ontario, effective May 1, 2025 with the Town of Collingwood being one of them. Strong Mayor powers offer resources to heads of Council to accelerate the implementation of key shared municipal-provincial priorities such as housing, transit, and infrastructure.

What are strong Mayor powers?

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. These include powers to:

These powers came into effect on May 1, 2025 and include the power:

• Appoint the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer
• Determine the organizational structure
• Hire, dismiss or exercise any other prescribed employment powers with respect to any division head or the head of any other part of the organizational structure
• Create committees of Council, assign their functions and appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council
• Propose the Town’s budget subject to Council amendments, Mayoral veto and a Council override process
• Veto certain by-laws if the Mayor believes all or part of the by-law could interfere with a Provincial Priority
• Submit matters for Council's consideration if the Mayor believes it will advance a prescribed Provincial Priority
• Direct Town staff in writing

There are certain powers and duties the Mayor may choose to delegate.

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 of Privacy Act. A public listing of Mayoral decisions and directions will be available on this page as decisions are made.

2025 Mayoral Decisions and Directions