Wilmot mayor appears on TVO to talk Bill 100 and strong mayor powers

Township of Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen Wilmot.ca photo

By Lee Griffi

The Ford government recently introduced legislation that, if passed, would see the Region of Waterloo’s Regional Chair appointed by the province – not elected.

The Better Regional Governance Act, tabled by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack a few weeks ago, would allow him to appoint regional chairs and give them additional powers.

“Eight of the province’s biggest regional governments in Ontario could soon have their leaders directly appointed by the province. It is designed to ensure more efficient, streamlined regional decision making,” explained Flack.

Those appointees would be granted what the province is calling “strong chair” powers, similar to existing strong mayor powers currently held by Natasha Salonen. Salonen, appearing on TVO’s The Rundown, hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, said Bill 100 is attempting to solve multiple problems across different regions.

“It could bring in tools that are well-utilized, or they could also cause problems. I think we will see how that plays out post-election.”

She added the one thing she is hoping for is transparency before October’s municipal election.

“I would love to see clarity on the ballot if (the position) is actually going to be elected or appointed because I don’t think the electorate is necessarily paying much attention on a day-to-day basis. I think there are some engaged folks and some who might be caught off guard if the province decides to appoint after the community already elects someone.”

The executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario also appeared on the TVO program and said while her organization is in favour of a review of how local governments operate, she is concerned about how an appointed chair could use strong chair powers.

“Not only is this person not directly accountable to the electorate, but I also think you could, in fact, have situations where they could be overruling members of their regional council who are (elected),” explained Lindsay Jones.

“This is fundamentally undemocratic, and we have called on the province to remove those elements from the bill,” she added.

As for her overall thoughts on the legislation, Salonen said Ontario has the legislative authority to determine regional governance structures.

“We've seen signals almost all this term that changes were being considered. My focus is less on the structure and more on whether it delivers better outcomes for regional residents.”

She added that Waterloo Region is facing complex, system-level challenges, the most critical likely being long-term water capacity, so it is valid to consider if a locally appointed chair with additional powers may help move critical files forward.

“At the same time, those decisions must remain grounded in local realities and have ample community input, to maintain good governance.”

Salonen explained that, like with any use of governance authority, whether appointed or elected, it really matters how power is applied and implemented. Any governance needs to preserve transparency, accountability, and a strong connection to the community it serves.

“There are situations where some issues that have been stalled too long could proceed in the interest of residents, but that should never come at the expense of local voices or thoughtful decisions. The goal should be better outcomes, not just a different structure.”

When asked if she would be open to becoming the region’s first appointed chair, she made it quite clear what her priority is.

"I'm fully focused on my role as mayor of Wilmot and am seeking re-election to continue the work we've started here. That's where my priority remains."

Salonen explained municipalities are creatures of the province, so there's always going to be a role for provincial direction in how systems are structured.

“That said, local governments are the closest to the communities they serve, and that perspective is critical. The most effective approach is one where the province sets the framework, but municipalities retain a meaningful role in decision-making and implementation. That's essential for both accountability and public trust.”

She added those two pillars would mirror existing strong mayor powers – allowing the province’s selected candidates to appoint or fire senior staff, direct staff, veto bylaws and propose the annual budget.

The bill was introduced on April 2 and has completed First Reading, which is the earliest stage in the legislative process. It is still moving through debate (Second Reading and beyond) and has not received Royal Assent, but it is expected to pass easily thanks to the Ford government’s majority.

Strong mayor powers were first introduced for Toronto and Ottawa in 2022, intending to ensure provincial priorities around housing were fast-tracked. However, a recent survey of civil servants in towns and cities across the province found strong mayor powers had had little or no impact on housing starts. Those numbers have fallen every year since 2022.

“Publicly, a lot of the (strong mayor powers) had to do with housing, but if you actually read the legislation, it gives a lot of other tools for decision making to be sped up. I’ve used them to help provide more information for my council’s decision-making.”

Salonen pointed to hiring KPMG to help develop Wilmot’s 2026 budget.

“It really gave my community the ability to better understand our finances. I’d say the tool isn’t only for housing when you read the legislation.”

She also used strong mayor powers to assist with leadership instability when Wilmot had an acting CAO due to a stalemate with councillors on how to proceed forward.

“We are an even-numbered council, so the vote was 3-3. I did use them to hire some support and headhunters to help us get that process moving, which resulted in my council unanimously deciding to bring on our current CEO.”