Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic is emphasizing that he has refrained from utilizing strong mayor powers introduced by the Ontario government in 2023. While Windsor and Toronto have reportedly made more use of these powers among large cities, a recent report indicated that Kitchener had employed them 59 times. However, Vrbanovic clarified that this statistic does not tell the whole story.
The introduction of strong mayor powers was intended to expedite development processes for municipalities. Under this system, every decision or directive made using these powers must be recorded and disclosed on the city’s website. This includes scenarios where the mayor either vetoes council decisions or approves them.
Of the 59 decisions listed on the City of Kitchener’s website, Vrbanovic confirmed that he had explicitly chosen not to veto council decisions in 54 instances. This strategic approach was taken to allow the decisions made during meetings to proceed promptly without obstruction.
Vrbanovic acknowledged that he did utilize strong mayor powers initially to ensure the continuity of council operations. This included reaffirming that the council would retain its authority to appoint the chief administrative officer (CAO) and oversee committees, with the CAO responsible for managing the city’s structure and functions.
In contrast, Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett exercised strong mayor powers in 2024 to veto a budget amendment, while Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie directed the city’s CAO and treasurer to present multi-year budgets in 2023 and provided updates on various matters in 2024.
Vrbanovic reiterated that he has maintained a consistent stance against the routine use of strong mayor powers, highlighting the positive dynamic between the council and staff in Kitchener. Similarly, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe has refrained from employing her strong mayor powers since their introduction in 2023, citing concerns about creating a toxic work environment and emphasizing that such authority is typically delegated to the CAO.
Both mayors emphasized that avoiding the use of strong mayor powers has not impeded development initiatives in their respective cities.