LAURIE WEIR
The Township of Rideau Lakes is formally asking the Ontario government to remove the municipality from its expanded strong mayor powers’ list.
During a special committee meeting held Wednesday, April 16, councillors said the province’s plan, which would extend the controversial powers to 169 more municipalities on May 1, undermines democratic governance by allowing mayors to override council decisions, appoint senior staff, and set budgets without majority support.
Coun. Jeff Banks called it “an attack on democracy.”
“We’re duly elected officials. We’re having our powers removed to vote at this table,” he said. “It’s not a single person’s agenda that we’re moving forward in this municipality. It has to be joint — whether that’s a unanimous vote or majority vote, it has to be a joint effort. If we can’t have a majority vote on an issue, then we can’t move it forward. That’s called democracy. To remove those powers from anybody — it doesn’t matter who it is — it’s wrong.”
The motion passed in a 5–2 vote. It echoes concerns from the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario, which has warned that the powers blur the line between political leadership and administrative neutrality. The committee also cited recent tensions in Orillia and in Rideau Lakes itself as examples of how the authority can be misused.
Deputy Mayor Paula Banks, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, questioned how many rural municipalities in Lanark and Leeds–Grenville had opposed the plan or asked to be removed from the list.
Clerk Mary Ellen Truelove noted that municipalities can express their opposition, but the decision rests with the province. Public feedback on the proposed expansion could be submitted through Ontario’s Regulatory Registry until April 16.
Coun. Linda Carr said she’s deeply concerned about concentrating so much authority in the hands of one person.
“This is too much power, especially if they have a grudge against anybody,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should have that responsibility.”
Coun. Sue Dunfield agreed.
“I am respectfully asking that our council vote against the strong mayor powers,” she said. “As elected officials, we speak for the people who elected us. One person does not speak for all.”
Not all councillors opposed the legislation. Coun. Marcia Maxwell and Coun. Ron Pollard said they don’t see the new powers as inherently harmful.
“I don’t feel threatened that my voice is going to be taken away,” Maxwell said. “It doesn’t mean everything is going to be vetoed on a regular basis.”
Pollard added that while the impact depends on the mayor, stronger powers could help move things forward. “If it goes to their head and they’re not willing to work with us, that’s a different story,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Banks emphasized that the concern isn’t just about Rideau Lakes.
“There’s a possibility of getting a mayor who doesn’t respect staff or taxpayers,” she said. “This could happen anywhere in the province.”
What troubles her most, she added, is the ability of a mayor to hire or fire municipal staff without council approval. “That scares me.”
P. Banks also brought up the possibility of downsizing council to one member per ward plus a mayor at large — a move that would reduce the number of council members from nine to five and, according to the clerk, would disqualify the township from the strong mayor powers legislation, which is for municipalities with six or more members. While the idea has been circulating on social media, any formal change would need to be enacted before the 2026 municipal election.
Council voted to send a letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack, Premier Doug Ford, Leeds–Grenville MPP Steve Clark, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the AMCTO, and every Ontario municipality. The resolution asks for their support — and for Rideau Lakes to be removed from the legislation.
