Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council (Mayor)

On May 1, 2025, the Province expanded strong mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities, including the Town of Ingersoll. Learn more about the Mayor's special powers and duties assigned by the province. Review mayoral decisions made under the Municipal Act.

Strong Mayor Powers Overview

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which took effect on May 1, 2025.

These include powers to:

Choose to appoint the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer*.
Hire certain municipal division heads and establish and reorganize divisions*.
Create committees of council, assign their functions and appoint the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of committees of council*.
Veto certain by-laws if they are of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority, such as housing, transit and infrastructure.
Bring forward matters for council consideration if they are of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a prescribed provincial priority.
Propose certain municipal by-laws if they are of the opinion that the proposed by-law could potentially advance a prescribed provincial priority. Council can pass these by-laws if more than one-third of all council members vote in favour.
Propose the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate mayoral veto and council override process.

*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.

The Mayor must exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The following lists mayoral decisions issued pursuant to Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001

Date	Decision Number (MDE)	Purpose

Subsection 284.3 of the Municipal Act authorizes the Mayor to direct staff to undertake research and provide advice on the Town's policies and programs or implement decisions made by the head of Council under the Act. These decisions must be in writing and available to the public.

Date	Direction Number (MDI)	Purpose

The Mayor may veto bylaws that could interfere with provincial priorities. If a veto is exercised, a prescribed notification and override process must be followed, which can delay the bylaw's passage. To expedite the process, the Mayor may submit written notice confirming they will not use their veto, allowing the bylaw to proceed under the standard approval process.

Date	Decision Number (MDE)	Purpose
May 1, 2025	MDE-2025-01	Delegation of authority to appoint a Chief Administrative Officer
May 1, 2025	MDE-2025-02	Delegation of powers re organizational structure and employment matters
May 1, 2025	MDE-2025-03	Delegation of powers re Council's Committees and Local Boards

Town of Ingersoll
130 Oxford Street (2nd Floor), Ingersoll, ON, N5C 2V5, Map this location
Phone: 519-485-0120, Email Us

Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council (Mayor)

Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council (Mayor)

On May 1, 2025, the Province expanded strong mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities, including the Town of Ingersoll. Learn more about the Mayor's special powers and duties assigned by the province. Review mayoral decisions made under the Municipal Act.

Strong Mayor Powers Overview

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which took effect on May 1, 2025.

Mayoral Decisions

Mayoral Directions

Mayoral Decisions: By-Laws

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