Strong mayor powers used to block majority on fractious eastern Ontario council

The politician of a small, conflict-wracked eastbound Ontario assembly has exercised beardown politician powers, conscionable a period aft the arguable measures were extended to caller municipalities.

Last week Arie Hoogenboom, the politician of Rideau Lakes, vetoed a assembly determination to question quotes for a program to renovate the municipal offices of the township located about 100 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa.

Whether to upgrade existing offices oregon physique caller ones is the root of a long-running and acrimonious quality that has divided the council. Opposing factions have levelled much than a twelve integrity commissioner complaints against each other.

The existing offices are located successful the hamlet of Chantry and necessitate upgrading. Hoogenboom is successful favour of relocating the facilities to a much populated area, and believes this measure could facilitate the improvement of a subdivision. But a bulk of assembly members reason the thought arsenic excessively expensive, preferring to renovate existing offices.

In March, Hoogenboom said the ambiance had grown so toxic that helium was temporarily stepping distant from immoderate of his duties.

But that didn't halt him past Monday from vetoing a determination by his opponents to nonstop a retrofit and summation program for the existing municipal offices retired to tender.

'So overmuch bigger than the issues successful Rideau Lakes'

To invoke the caller powers, mayors are required to springiness a rationale for however the determination aligns with provincial priorities. Hoogenboom justified his veto by referring to provincial priorities to physique caller homes and support infrastructure, and said helium retained the backing of the section community.

"In the past predetermination I received a important mandate from the nationalist to physique a municipal office," helium said successful an interview.

"I'm wholly convinced that if determination was immoderate nationalist consultation connected this, the nationalist would intelligibly bespeak that they were successful favour of my option."

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But Paula Banks, 1 of 5 councillors opposed to Hoogenboom, said using the beardown politician powers was undemocratic.

"It's a five-three ballot and helium was allowed to halt us," she said. "This communicative is truthful overmuch bigger than the issues successful Rideau Lakes."

On May 1, mayors successful 169 Ontario municipalities were fixed the powerfulness to veto bylaws, walk others with conscionable a 3rd of assembly successful favour and fire and prosecute municipal section heads. The measures were archetypal introduced successful 2022 for the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, arsenic a mode to beforehand provincial argumentation priorities.

Powers 'undemocratic'

But the measures person proven controversial. Banks said she is reaching retired to the different municipalities precocious awarded beardown politician powers and said most she has heard from are against them.

"The bulk of municipalities reason this," she said. "Our mayors are saying it's a atrocious idea, our councillors are saying it's undemocratic and the Ford authorities is conscionable ignoring it."

Banks said she hopes to physique a conjugation to lobby Premier Doug Ford to rescind the provisions.

In Rideau Lakes, Banks and her 4 allies passed a solution astatine council opposing beardown politician powers and asking to opt out. Hoogenboom was absent from the vote.

After Hoogenboom utilized his caller powers, those five councillors sought to decision their usage but lacked the two-thirds bulk needed to bash so.

That has near the divided assembly incapable to proceed connected a people of action, Hoogenboom said.

"We're inactive a spot hamstrung," helium said, acknowledging that his "mandate is severely compromised."

In the meantime, a determination connected what to bash astir the township's municipal offices volition apt person to hold until after elections adjacent year, according to Hoogenboom.

"When there's a bully accidental that determination would beryllium much radical who would beryllium consenting to enactment successful the aforesaid direction," helium said.