Durham Region strong chair powers will give the next provincially appointed head of Durham Regional Council additional authority over municipal decisions, budgets and priorities beginning with the council term following Ontario’s 2026 municipal election.
The change is part of Ontario’s Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, which received Royal Assent on May 7.
Under the legislation, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing may appoint the heads of council in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County.
The appointments replace the previous process used in several regions where councillors selected or residents elected their regional chair.
Durham Region Strong Chair Powers Explained
The Durham Region strong chair powers are expected to operate similarly to Ontario’s existing strong mayor framework.
Strong heads of council can exercise additional authority in areas connected to provincial priorities, including housing construction and infrastructure development.
Depending on the applicable regulations, these powers may include proposing certain bylaws, directing municipal employees to conduct research or implement decisions, appointing a chief administrative officer and reorganizing some municipal committees.
A qualifying bylaw proposed under strong-head-of-council authority can be approved with support from more than one-third of all council members.
Strong heads of council may also have additional responsibilities during the annual municipal budget process.
Ontario says the governance changes are intended to make regional decision-making faster, improve fiscal responsibility and better align municipal actions with provincial priorities.
Change Affects All Durham Municipalities
Durham Regional Council makes decisions affecting services across Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock.
Regional responsibilities include services such as policing, paramedics, public health, waste management, water and wastewater systems, regional roads, transit and long-term planning.
As a result, the appointment of the next regional chair and the introduction of stronger executive authority could influence major decisions across all eight Durham municipalities.
The provincial government opened an application process for people interested in regional chair and chief executive positions. That application period has now closed.
Ontario has not yet publicly announced who will be appointed as the next Durham Regional Chair.
The new governance structure is intended to apply to the council term beginning after the 2026 municipal election.
Residents and municipal leaders will be watching how the Durham Region strong chair powers affect council accountability, local representation, housing decisions and cooperation between the regional and lower-tier governments.
