John Mascarin, a Certified Specialist in Municipal Law and a key member of our Municipal & Land Use Planning Group, is a leading authority on the Municipal Act, 2001. Now that Ontario has extended strong mayor powers to an additional 170 municipalities, John's extensive expertise and experience have uniquely positioned him to provide invaluable guidance to municipalities across the province.
Purported to streamline local governance and advance key provincial priorities relating to the construction of new and critical infrastructure related thereto, the strong mayor powers have upended the historical “weak mayor” system of local governance that has been in place since pre-Confederation. John has been at the forefront of analyzing this fundamental change to local government democracy, which now applies to almost half of all municipalities in Ontario.
John’s work has been instrumental in helping municipalities understand the implications of strong mayor powers. For example, his conference paper "Strong Mayor Powers – The Erosion of Municipal Democracy," co-authored with Jennifer Bilas, explores the impact of these changes on local governance. John's expertise has been sought throughout the province by many municipalities as they prepare for the implementation of these powers.
As Ontario continues to expand strong mayor powers, John remains a vital resource for municipalities seeking to understand what they are, how they apply and what they will change. John and his colleagues are available to provide opinions, advice, briefings and presentations to councils and administrative staff to help municipalities navigate the complexities of these significant powers and duties.
If your municipality is preparing for the implementation of Strong Mayor Powers and requires expert guidance, contact John to schedule a presentation or consultation and ensure your municipality is well-prepared for this significant transition.