Ontario Construction News staff writer
According to Lambton County Council, Premier Doug Ford’s strong mayors’ legislation will take the province down “the wrong path.”
“I have not seen the evidence how having a strong mayor is going to build more homes,” Lambton Shores Mayor Bill Weber said. “I think each council wants to get housing on the line and go forward,” he said.
County council approved a motion presented by Weber to send a letter to Ford opposing Ontario’s Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act which would give additional powers to mayors of Toronto and Ottawa. The premier has said the powers could be extended to other municipalities as well.
“I believe this is taking the province down the wrong path,” said Weber. “I would like to see the county send a letter to our member (municipalities) asking that they don’t support this bill. I think this is the ending of democracy,” he said. “One person, one vote is the way it’s always been.
“I have not seen the evidence how having a strong mayor is going to build more homes. I think each council wants to get housing on line and go forward.”
The province introduced the Bill in August, arguing it would give local councillors “more responsibility to deliver on shared provincial-municipal priorities, including building 1.5 million new homes over next 10 years.”
The motion was passed in a recorded vote with only Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley voting no.
“Toronto and Ottawa now with the potential of adding more, so it’s a slippery slope in my opinion,” said Deputy Warden Hand.