Guelph residents speak out against strong mayor powers at council meeting
A long list of people were speaking out in the Royal City during a Tuesday night council meeting.
Delegates lined up to raise their concerns for the strong mayor powers announced by the provincial government.
"Please put everything into effect that you can to protect the democracy of this chamber," one delegate said.
The mayor of Guelph is one of 26 municipal leaders who will be granted the powers as of July 1.
The legislation gives mayors the ability to veto bylaws that conflict with provincial priorities, like building more houses.
"Sadly, some of the more toxic and undemocratic aspects of the strong mayors act still exist," another delegate said. "For example, housing bylaws passing with a minority vote."
Many of the delegates asked that notice be given to the public if and when the power is going to be used.
Strong mayor powers for Toronto and Ottawa took effect back in fall of last year.
Ottawa set up a website for the public to find out more information. Guelph plans to do the same.
Staff say any decision and directives that are issued by the mayor will be made in writing and posted online.
Ward 5 Councillor Leanne Caron noted that they had still not seen the legislation for the strong mayor powers coming into effect.
"We anticipate seeing them hopefully later this week," a staff member said in reply to Coun. Caron. "We know what was publicly announced, so we expect this to look much like it looked in Ottawa, but that's not to say that there won't be some things in the regulation that don't surprise us.
"Be patient with us as we wait to see them and better understand them."
Council also voted on how long delegations can speak during planning matters, which will be maintained at 10 minutes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving 'corrective action' for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.
'It's over': Minister says B.C.'s decision on Surrey police transition upheld in court
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled in the provincial government's favour on the City of Surrey's legal challenge to its ongoing transition to a municipal police force, according to B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
Luxury beauty brand Clarins to pull out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada
French luxury makeup and skincare brand Clarins is pulling out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Ottawa police investigating death of a gosling in Kanata
Ottawa police are investigating after someone allegedly stomped on a gosling in Kanata. Police say it appears that Canada geese laid eggs in the area, 'and on May 21, a suspect stomped on one of the hatched babies.'