2022 Ontario Municipal Election Watch: Mayoral Race Analysis
The Mayoral Mix
With candidate registration having wrapped up in municipalities across Ontario on August 19, 2022, the mayoral election landscape is beginning to take shape. Themes across municipalities are many long-time mayors choosing to not seek re-election, strong incumbents bidding for another term, and candidates running unopposed.
Importantly, the impact of any turnover will be compounded by yesterday’s passing of the Ontario Government’s Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, which has given the next Mayors of Toronto and Ottawa broad powers over municipal budgets and the hiring and firing of senior bureaucratic staff. The new legislation also entitles these mayors to veto power, presenting a difficult challenge to opposing councillors to round up a two-thirds council vote to overturn a mayor’s veto. The Province has indicated that the mayors of other large cities such as Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, and Hamilton may receive such new powers before the 2026 municipal elections, and other municipalities may follow thereafter. As regulations are introduced, we will continue to watch how the Bill may impact municipal council dynamics.
Sussex’s Municipal Practice experts have identified the thirteen key mayoral races to watch over the next eight weeks, and the top contenders in each.
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