Welland Mayor Frank Campion won’t use his strong-mayor powers to overturn city council’s rejection of zoning amendments that would have allowed for a large residential towers development on Niagara Street.

Under the provincially legislated powers, Campion could veto the unanimous decision against The Development Squad’s proposal but councillors, in turn, could overturn that veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

Mayors in Toronto and Ottawa were first given the power in 2022, with St. Catharines and Niagara Falls following in mid-2023. Welland’s mayor was granted the authority in November 2023.

The strong-mayor powers were introduced to help municipalities accelerate home construction and meet the province’s goal of having 1.5 million homes built by 2031. The powers give mayors the aut

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