I was asked for a response in regards to strong mayor powers.
Strong mayor powers are a provincial mechanism, and choosing not to use available municipal tools to better our community would be a disservice to the residents who elect us. If using these powers helps cut through red tape and deliver results faster for Guelph on urgent priorities like housing, infrastructure, and budget efficiency, I will use them.
We have already seen these powers invoked locally by Mayor Cam Guthrie, whether directing city staff to meet property tax targets for the 2025 and 2026 budgets, identifying underutilized city-owned land for affordable housing developments, or fast-tracking zoning amendments for residential projects like the one at 343 Waterloo Ave. These examples show that strong mayor tools can be used effectively to accelerate important civic goals.
However, strong mayor powers should serve as a mechanism of action, not an excuse to bypass local democracy. Collaborative governance and working closely with City Council will always be my primary approach. In Guelph, these powers should strictly be a tool of last resort ensuring critical community priorities don’t get stalled in administrative delays while keeping open dialogue and council partnership at the core of how our city is run.
Here is also a list references:
1. Budget Targets & Cap Directives
• February 2024 Directives: Mayor Guthrie issued a Mayoral Direction instructing city staff to establish the draft 2025 confirmation budget with a property tax increase under 4%, lowering it from an initial projected increase of nearly 10%. A similar directive was later established for the 2026 budget cycle.
• Mayor’s Proposed Budget (October 2024): Mayor Guthrie formally introduced the draft 2025 budget using legislative strong mayor powers to lock in those reduced tax rate targets.
2. Housing Initiatives & Expedited Redevelopment
• City-Owned Lands (February 2024): Issued a directive ordering municipal staff to evaluate underutilized city-owned properties including surface parking lots for potential housing developments.
• Expedited Planning Amendments (July 2025): Applied strong mayor powers directly to a housing development proposal at 343 Waterloo Ave., directing staff to prepare zoning and official plan amendments to fast-track the creation of residential and affordable housing units.
3. Homelessness & Structured Encampments
• Encampment Study Directive (February 2024): Directed city staff to explore costs, logistics, and potential locations for establishing a temporary structured tiny-home encampment.