Ontario Set to Introduce ‘Strong Mayor’ Legislation to Accelerate Housing Development

Ontario is set to introduce legislation today to give major municipal leaders strong mayoral powers to speed up housing construction.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark is set to introduce legislation that the government says will give municipalities more tools.

Premier Doug Ford said he is planning a « strong mayor » system for Toronto and Ottawa and plans to expand it to other cities.

Ford said in his government’s Speech from the Throne on Tuesday that strong mayor systems will allow city leaders to reduce development times, standardize processes and address local barriers to increasing the supply of services. accommodations.

The prime minister has previously said two-thirds of a council could overrule a mayor’s decision under such a system.

Ford did not indicate during the recent election campaign that it planned to introduce such legislation.