The Township of North Huron is among 169 municipalities across Ontario newly granted Strong Mayor Powers as of May 1, but Reeve Paul Heffer said he won’t be making use of them.
While these powers grant enhanced authority to the Head of Council, Heffer has announced his decision to delegate these powers back to the elected Council and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) wherever possible.
In a statement issued this week, Reeve Heffer expressed concerns that the use of Strong Mayor Powers could risk undermining the collaborative work of Council, municipal staff, and the valuable input of North Huron residents and community partners.
“I am concerned that utilizing Strong Mayor Powers will undermine the work of Council, staff and the input from our residents and community partners and does a disservice to local democracy,” said Heffer. “Council and staff have always worked together to move North Huron forward, and that spirit of cooperation will continue to guide our actions.”
The Strong Mayor Powers legislation grants municipal heads additional authority and duties beyond those previously set out in the Municipal Act, including certain decision-making and budgetary powers.
Despite this, Reeve Heffer affirmed his commitment to a leadership approach rooted in collaboration and public engagement.
“We achieve the best results when we listen to one another and make decisions as a team, not unilaterally,” he said.
Residents seeking more information about the Strong Mayor framework and decisions are encouraged to visit the Strong Mayor Decisions and Directions page on the Township of North Huron website.