Amherstburg asks province to be removed from strong mayor powers expansion

Amherstburg asks province to be removed from strong mayor powers expansion

The Town of Amherstburg wants the provincial government to remove them from a list of communities granted so-called “strong mayor” powers announced last week.

Amherstburg was one of 169 municipalities who learned they would receive the powers, which provide mayors with abilities that some have labelled undemocratic.

This includes the ability to override some council decisions, fire and hire senior staff, veto bylaws and approve budgets with only one-third of council support.

On Monday night, council voted unanimously to ask the province to formally remove Amherstburg from the legislation.

Mayor Michael Prue said the notice “came like a bolt out of the blue” and leaves council in a precarious situation.

“It is not clear even if we oppose it whether it will be imposed on us or not,” Prue said.

However, according to town staff, municipalities cannot be removed but can refuse to use the powers.

“I ran in the last election and was asked whether I believed in strong mayor powers, and I categorically said no,” Prue explained. “I don’t believe that’s necessary in a town like Amherstburg.”

Council voted to open the floor to residents so they could voice their opinions on the legislation.

“A hard no,” one woman said.

Another resident said he doesn’t want the mayor making decisions on behalf of the entire council.

“We’re supposed to be living in a democracy. A democracy is where everybody gets a chance to speak,” he said.

Amherstburg is part of a growing contingent of municipalities who do not want strong mayor powers.

In the fall of 2023, Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff sent two letters which stated he did not want the powers, but the municipality was still added to the legislation.

In Essex County, several municipalities have outlined similar plans to make similar requests.

“I’m going to remind everybody that I might be the mayor now, but who knows what the next mayor is going to say,” Prue added.

- with files from CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru