Strong Mayor Powers: The Stratford Case for Democracy

Democracy is not a spectator sport, but in Ontario, it has increasingly become a target for executive overreach. While some municipalities like Burlington have spent their energy fiddling around the edges with non-binding policies to mitigate the impact of the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, the City of Stratford has chosen a more courageous, albeit risky, path. Stratford is no longer just talking about democracy; it is fighting for it in the halls of justice.

A Legal Challenge Rooted in Principle

Mayor Martin Ritsma has been unusually direct about Stratford’s intent: this lawsuit is about “sending a message” -democracy matters.

Stratford has filed a legal challenge seeking a declaration that the province’s Strong Mayor legislation has “no force and effect,” arguing it is inconsistent with Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That section guarantees the right to meaningful participation in the democratic process. Whether the courts ultimately agree remains to be seen. But the act of asking the question – of putting the issue before a judge – is itself significant.

The Risk Stratford Knows It’s Taking

Mayor Ritsma acknowledged what many in municipal politics understand but rarely say out loud – challenging the province carries risk. There is the practical concern about relationships with Queen’s Park. Stratford relies, like every municipality, on provincial funding for infrastructure, housing, and community projects. No mayor can ignore the possibility that a legal challenge could strain those relationships.

Then There is the Financial Cost

Litigation is expensive. Stratford has committed to funding the case through its operating budget, with council agreeing to publicly disclose the final cost once proceedings conclude. That transparency is commendable – but it does not eliminate the burden on taxpayers. This raises a fair question: if this case is about defending democracy, should the cost rest solely with Stratford residents?

Or is there a broader community- across Ontario – that believes strongly enough in this challenge to help carry it? A public fundraising effort, perhaps even a modest one, would test that proposition. It would also send a second message: that this is not just Stratford’s fight.

Burlington’s Approach

Meanwhile, in Burlington, council is engaged in a different exercise. There, the response to Strong Mayor Powers has been to explore policies – a tepid attempt to shape how those powers might be used. But they are, at the end of the day, non-binding. They do not change the legislation. They do not constrain a future mayor who may choose to exercise those powers more aggressively. And they do not answer the fundamental question Stratford is now asking: should these powers exist at all in their current form?

Democracy: Process or Principle

At the heart of this debate is a deeper question about what democracy means at the municipal level. Is it primarily about process – how councils operate, how decisions are made, how procedures are followed?

Or is it about principle – the distribution of power, the balance between elected representatives, and the ability of voters to hold decision-makers accountable? Strong Mayor Powers shift that balance. They concentrate authority in a single office, justified by the province as a way to accelerate housing and align municipal decisions with provincial priorities.

A Moment That May Define Others

Stratford is currently alone in its legal action, though Ritsma hinted at “soft conversations with other municipalities”. Legal challenges often begin with a single applicant willing to take the first step—and the first risk. If Stratford’s case gains traction, it could become a rallying point for other councils wrestling with the same concerns but hesitant to act. Or it could remain an outlier, a principled stand that others quietly admire but decline to join.

The Cost of Standing Still

Non-binding policies, however thoughtful, do not resolve constitutional questions. They do not limit legislative authority. And they do not prevent the future use – perhaps the aggressive use – of Strong Mayor Powers by those less inclined to restraint. Stratford has decided that the issue is too important to leave unsettled. That decision comes with financial cost, political risk, and uncertain outcomes. But it also comes with clarity.

The Question Now

Stratford has asked the courts to weigh in on the future of municipal democracy in Ontario. The question for other municipalities – including Burlington- is whether they are content to watch from the sidelines, continue refining process, or step onto the same field of principle.

Because in the end, democracy is not only shaped by those who challenge it.

It is also shaped by those who choose not to.