On May 1, 2025, the Province of Ontario officially expanded Strong Mayor Powers to 170 additional municipalities, including the Town of Perth. Introduced under the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 and the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, the legislation is intended to help accelerate housing and infrastructure development by granting enhanced powers to heads of council in designation communities.

These Strong Mayor Powers include the authority to:

• Appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer;
• Hire certain municipal department heads and establish and/or re-organize departments;
• Create committees of council, assign their functions, and appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of council;
• Propose the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate head of council veto and council override process;
• Propose certain municipal by-laws to advance provincial priorities, which may pass if more than one-third of all council members vote in favour;
• Veto certain by-laws if the head of council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority; and
• Bringing forward matters for council consideration if the head of council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.

In anticipation of this change, the Council of the Town of Perth passed a unanimous motion on April 14, 2025, requesting to be removed from the list of designated municipalities. A formal letter outlining this request was sent to the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. However, the Province still moved forward with its implementation.

“This model is not compatible with how our community governs”, said Mayor Judy Brown. “Our Council is committed to collaboration, transparency, and democratic process. Our residents did not vote for a system that concentrates decision-making in one office.”

While Council does not support the implemented authority model, it remains aligned with the Province’s housing and infrastructure priorities and has already taken significant steps toward supporting these goals.

Since the beginning of this term, Perth Council has:

• Approved 120 affordable housing unit starts;
• Donated municipally owned land to a non-profit to build 15 additional affordable and rent-geared-to-income units;
• Approved the expansion of a subdivision to add 100 new homes, with construction commencing in 2025; and
• Is reviewing a proposed 1,000-home subdivision that would significantly expand local housing options.

To support projected population growth to 10,500 people by 2035, Council has also:

• Committed funding to expand the wastewater treatment lagoon in 2025;
• Approved construction of a new water tower, beginning in 2027;
• Updated the Town’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law to support intensification and infill development;
• Partnered with local physicians and provided funding for a new medical and healthcare clinic; and
• Advanced several other projects focused on responsible growth and service expansion.

To better understand the potential implications of the provincial changes, Council and senior staff participated in a training session hosted by Lanark County in early May. The Town remains committed to learning more about the framework and its operational impacts.

Further updates and public information will be shared as it becomes available.

SOURCE: Town of Perth.