What are the limits to council authority in a strong-mayor era?

What are the limits to council authority in a strong-mayor era?

From #onpoli, a TVO podcast by TVO

April 10, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of strong-mayor powers on local democracy and housing in Ontario, alongside urban planning issues in Toronto.

Do new appointees in Niagara and Simcoe threaten local democracy? Have stronger mayors even helped to build more housing, as promised? Who will foot the bill for proposed changes to the Greater Toronto Area commuter trains? And what does the scheduled transformation of Queen's Park North say about how we imagine urban parks and public spaces in downtown Toronto? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath parse out these questions in this week's #onpoli. In "Your Column, My Column," the hosts break down what a Toronto planning dispute says about the housing crisis in Ontario, and discuss how Hamilton will be the best mayor's race in the province. Link:  JMM mentioned the Toronto city report about consultations of the green space. Find it here: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.EX29.3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Steve Paikin, John Michael McGrath

Topics covered

  • local democracy
  • strong mayor
  • housing crisis
  • urban parks
  • public spaces
  • Toronto planning dispute

Keywords

  • Niagara
  • Simcoe
  • Greater Toronto Area
  • commuter trains
  • Hamilton mayor's race

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Toronto city report

Books & works: Your Column, My Column

Places: Niagara, Simcoe, Greater Toronto Area, Toronto, Ontario, Hamilton

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