Ontario's recent decision to extend strong mayor powers to 169 more municipalities has ignited concerns over local democracy. Mayors now have significant authority to veto bylaws, necessitate fewer votes for passing laws, and manage department heads unilaterally. While some mayors promise to refrain from using these powers, various local leaders, like Stratford's Mark Hunter, vehemently oppose them, emphasizing the risk of concentrated power diminishing local representation and community dialogue, which could ultimately lead to a weakening of democratic processes.
What it effectively does is get rid of majority rule in our council. It's the expectation of the residents in our community that their representatives are able to fully represent them and this change puts some level of diminishment on that.
It's another example of concentrating power in fewer hands. Unfortunately in human history, that doesn't always work out so well.
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