THUNDER BAY — Strong Mayor powers strike mixed feelings.
While at the 2025 Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference on Wednesday, Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie said that strong mayor powers aren’t needed.
The Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, was introduced by Premier Doug Ford, who says the new powers are a way to increase housing in Ontario.
“I'm on record as believing that we don't need strong mayor powers,” she added.
Strong mayor powers, are currently in place for 47 communities across Ontario, including Thunder Bay. The powers provided enhanced authority to mayors in certain areas, including budgeting, appointing and removing senior staff and advancing provincial priorities.
The province has also offered the powers to 169 other communities. Those communities include Sioux Lookout, Fort Frances, and Greenstone.
“I don't believe that the mayor should have more weight than the municipal councillors,” said Crombie.
Crombie stated that she “would highly encourage any mayor to heed the advice of their councillors because they know their local communities.”
Strong mayor powers were used by Crombie when she was the mayor of Mississauga following a leave of absence.
“I wanted to bring back the issue of more density and greater use of intensification in housing and bring back the idea of four-plexes,” she added.
After the vote for density and intensification in housing had gone to a tie vote, Crombie used her strong mayor powers to bring the motion back for discussion, ultimately ending in 8-4.
“I have mixed feelings about it as you can see,” Crombie added.
“This is vitally important that we get this right and that we are responsive to the needs of the people of the Northwest.”
