Less than half of the province’s “strong mayors” appeared to be using their controversial powers in the months ahead of a sweeping expansion of the system to 170 additional communities, according to estimates by Ontario’s civil service.

Those findings are detailed in internal Ontario Public Service reports that tracked the use of so-called strong mayor powers until March 31. CBC News obtained the reports through a freedom of information request.

According to the reports, 48 per cent of the 46 mayors had used the powers at least once by that point. The province extended the powers to nearly half of Ontario’s municipalities just months later.

The report, intended for senior government officials, also finds that a quarter of the strong mayors delegated all of their powers to city council o

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