All seven Essex County mayors could be given strong mayor powers.
The province has proposed expanding the powers to 169 more municipalities effective May 1, 2025.
The legislation aims to streamline local governance and reduce obstacles that stand in the way of infrastructure development.
With strong mayor powers, the heads of council have the ability to appoint a chief administrative officer, reorganise municipal departments, and veto council decisions surrounding yearly budgets.
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara was surprised by the news.
"This is unexpectedly dropped on our laps and I need time to digest this and all the impacts and nuances," said McNamara.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has used the powers given to him to appoint and fire city staff. He also vetoed council's decision to maintain tunnel bus service during the last round of budget deliberations.
"With strong mayor powers, I’ve been able to support key initiatives in housing, transit and infrastructure, aligning with provincial priorities. With the province’s support, we’ve streamlined processes, reduced barriers and launched initiatives like Housing Solutions Made for Windsor and the Strengthen the Core Downtown Windsor plan, driving further growth and development," said Dilkens.
There are currently 47 municipalities with strong mayor powers.
