Windsor's Mayor has a new job.
Drew Dilkens is the chair of the new Housing Supply Action Plan Implementation Team.
He was appointed on Wednesday by Premier Doug Ford and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steven Clark when the provincial government introduced the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act.
The new legislation gives the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa new powers over municipal budgets and the hiring and firing of senior city staff. That would enable them to move faster on shared provincial and municipal priorities like building 1.5-million new homes over the next decade.
It would also allow them to appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of specific committees and local boards, introduce municipal budgets and matters of provincial priority to municipal councils, and veto bylaws approved by councillors if they contradict the province's direction.
Councillors could propose amendments to those budgets and override a mayor's veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
Explaining why only Toronto and Ottawa mayors would have new authority, the provincial government projected those cities will see 35 per cent of Ontario's projected growth by 2031. However, Dilkens acknowledged affordable housing is a challenge across the province.
"All levels of government have a role to play as we seek to tackle this public policy challenge and level the playing field for new and existing homeowners," said Dilkens. "The Implementation Team has a focused and strategic mandate to deliver results that will make a meaningful difference for working families all across Ontario."
If the Ontario legislature passes the new bill, it takes effect on November 15, after the municipal elections in October and at the start of the new council term.
Serving as vice-chair alongside Dilkens is the Mayor of the Township of Hornepayne, Cheryl Fort. The government will announce the other team members in the coming weeks. It'll meet for the first time early this fall.
The team advise the province on housing projects and build on the vision set out by the Housing Affordability Task Force, More Homes for Everyone.