Strong mayor powers used to block majority on fractious eastern Ontario council

The mayor of Rideau Lakes, a small township in eastern Ontario, recently made headlines for exercising strong mayor powers in a controversial decision regarding the renovation of municipal offices. The township, located about 100 kilometers southwest of Ottawa, has been embroiled in a heated debate over whether to upgrade existing offices in the hamlet of Chantry or build new ones in a more populated area.

The council, divided into opposing factions, has been at odds over the issue for some time, with more than a dozen integrity commissioner complaints filed against each other. Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, who favors relocating the facilities to facilitate the development of a subdivision, vetoed a council decision to seek quotes for renovating the existing offices. This move has further deepened the rift within the council.

Hoogenboom justified his veto by citing provincial priorities to build new homes and maintain infrastructure, claiming that he had the backing of the local community. However, councilor Paula Banks, one of five members opposed to the mayor’s decision, criticized the use of strong mayor powers as undemocratic.

The controversial measures granting mayors veto powers, the ability to pass bylaws with only a third of council in favor, and the authority to hire and fire department heads were extended to 169 Ontario municipalities in May. While intended to advance provincial policy priorities, these powers have faced backlash from many local officials who view them as undemocratic.

Banks is working to build a coalition with other municipalities to lobby Premier Doug Ford to revoke the provisions. In Rideau Lakes, a resolution opposing strong mayor powers was passed by Banks and her allies, but they lacked the two-thirds majority to overturn Hoogenboom’s decision.

The divided council is now at a standstill, unable to move forward on a course of action regarding the municipal offices. Hoogenboom acknowledged that his mandate has been compromised and suggested that a decision may have to wait until after the next elections.

Overall, the situation in Rideau Lakes serves as a microcosm of the broader debate surrounding strong mayor powers in Ontario municipalities. As the council grapples with internal discord and external pressures, the future of the township’s municipal offices remains uncertain.