Strong mayor powers are coming to Brockville — here’s what it means for housing and growth

Mayor Wren believes council is already aligned with the province’s priorities

The City of Brockville will gain new “Strong Mayor Powers” on May 1, 2025, following a provincial announcement earlier this month.

Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack, revealed that 169 more municipalities, including Brockville, will receive the powers introduced through the Better Municipal Governance Act in 2022.

These powers are designed to speed up housing development and related infrastructure by giving mayors more authority to bypass certain council processes that could slow progress.

Mayor Matt Wren issued a statement saying he believes Brockville’s council is already aligned with the province’s priorities. Council also discussed the changes at a recent meeting and noted that policy updates will come forward at a later date.

The new authority aims to remove barriers and ensure municipalities have the tools they need to meet Ontario’s housing targets.

More information will be released by the city in the coming months.

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