Jim Diodati says Strong Mayor power just another tool at his disposal, but likely won't use it
Appears Niagara Falls' mayor is ready to put the Strong Mayor power granted to him by the province on the back burner.
The power would give Jim Diodati the ability to override council, especially when it comes to getting more homes built, as per the province's plan to answer the housing crisis.
He says he'd consider this a tool at his disposal. "It's like a first aid kit, you have it in the trunk of your car, if you're going camping. You don't intend to use it, but you have it as a back up plan. I can tell you, in 13 years as the mayor, I can't think of any time that I would have needed any extra tools."
The mayor adds voters put in an excellent group of people at council, leading to healthy debate on solving the housing crisis, rather than giving one person the dominant power.
He acknowledges there is a supply and demand problem.
"I can tell you in our office we take a lot of calls from people who can't even afford to rent, when they tell me the prices of basement apartments, it's unreasonable what they're having to pay. In fact, often more than what a mortgage would be," he says.
City staff added they'll be asking the provincial government for more detail on what power the mayor would have.
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