Mayoral Powers: Decisions and Directions

Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council:

On May 1, 2025, strong mayor powers came into effect for the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley as part of the Province’s expansion of these authorities to 169 additional municipalities.

Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, the Mayor has been assigned special powers and duties as the Head of Council. 

These special powers include:

• Appointing the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer.*
• Hiring certain municipal department heads and establishing and reorganizing departments.*
• Creating committees of Council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council.*
• Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a Mayoral veto and Council override process.
• Vetoing certain bylaws if the Mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
• Bringing forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority.

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

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