KENORA — Mayor Andrew Poirier says the “strong mayor powers” being offered to him could be useful tools for government efficiency.
Earlier this month, the province notified Poirier and 168 other municipal heads of council across Ontario that they will be eligible for strong mayor powers effective May 1.
The additional powers being offered include unilateral hiring decisions and veto of a bylaw if the mayor thinks “all or part of the bylaw could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.”
Kenora council discussed the matter in their April 15 meeting, and Poirier discussed strong mayor powers with Newswatch last week during the 2025 Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference in Thunder Bay.
“I look at it as sort of a tool in our toolbox, or my toolbox,” Poirier told Newswatch.
Some “details and legislative requirements” were still unclear last week, he said.
Poirier said it’s “premature to say” whether he would ever have any reason to use the powers.
“But there are some in the budgeting area, specifically, and then (relating to) bylaws that sort of fast-track planning or development, that I think we need.
“Like, we just cannot keep going the way we are.
“So if it’s going to help the community — and the decisions will be based on what’s best for the community — then I would seriously take a look at some of those powers that would be available to, in this case, me as the mayor at this point in time.”
Strong mayor powers offer resources to heads of council to speed the process of implementing provincial-municipal priorities such as housing and infrastructure.
Under a Strong Mayors law that came into effect in late 2022, the province can offer select mayors enhanced authority in certain matters that include budgeting and the hiring of key personnel.
There are currently 47 Ontario mayors with strong mayor powers, including the mayors of Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
The 169 municipalities offered strong mayor powers beginning in May include seven in Northwestern Ontario: Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Rainy River, Sioux Lookout, Atikokan and Greenstone.
Greenstone Mayor Jamie McPherson told Newswatch it’s nice to have the option, but it’s not something he would implement without consulting councillors.
Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas said he’d rather work with councillors than veto them.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, the former mayor of Mississauga, told Newswatch last week that mayors would do better to “heed the advice of their councillors because they know their local communities.”
