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Norcross exercises strong mayor powers to approve official plan amendment

July 23, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Town of New Tecumseth’s Official Plan Amendment 5 (OPA 5) has been approved after Mayor Richard Norcross invoked strong mayor powers during a town council meeting on Monday, July 13.

Under the province’s strong mayor system, a vote requires the support of one-third of councillors, instead of a proper majority. The Monday night vote was tied at 5-5. Under normal procedures, that vote would have defeated the motion.

OPA 5 calls for significant growth in Alliston, including major employment land expansion, continued industrial development, and new transportation infrastructure.

Alliston is planned for around 41 per cent of new population growth, with over 15,000 new residents by 2051.

The plan for Beeton is a 21 per cent increase in population. That’s around 7,500 new residents.

Tottenham is forecast to see around 4,950 new residents by 2051.

However, Tottenham will not see an increase in employment opportunities. The plan is for residential growth and more local commercial services.

Upon discussion, several councillors voiced their opinion on the amendment.

Several councillors referred to strong mayor powers as being “undemocratic” because they override a regular majority vote. Ward 6 Coun. Nicole Cox questioned the expansion of settlement boundaries beyond what is needed to accommodate forecasted growth.

“The majority of Alliston growth model makes the most sense,” said Coun. Cox. “We saw what these projects could potentially give us – 2,871 hectares of development in New Tecumseth. That’s a significant amount of land. For this growth management study, we needed just under 500 hectares to accommodate the forecasted growth of approximately 35,000 residents. The recommendation before us today is just under 1,000 hectares. Why are we making permanent settlement boundary expansion decisions today before we know the full impact of the province’s 2,871 hectare plan for our municipality?”

Ward 8 Coun. Andrea Jacks said the OPA 5 is about responsible growth.

“In principle, the decision to move forward with OPA 5, and why we need this planning now, is really about responsible growth and providing policy framework and a toolkit for staff to use to help navigate the future growth, which I will remind everyone, is over 20 years,” Coun. Jacks said.

Ward 1 Coun. Chris Rapin questioned the use of strong mayor powers and said that not having a regular vote based on majority support goes against the democratic process.

He said strong mayor powers mean “we are not dictating our own growth, you, [the mayor] have taken that out of the equation.”

Coun. Rapin went on to mention the mayor’s campaign goals from 2022 and was critical of the mayor’s performance since then.

“Our mayor wants an open and transparent council with common goals,” Rapin said, quoting the mayor, “’Teamwork is the key to council’s success.’ Well good luck with strong mayors getting out there.”

Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan, who is running for mayor in the next election, criticized Norcross’s use of strong mayor powers.

“Democracy is dying folks, and this is what it looks like,” she said. “Approximately 4,400 decisions have been made by Ontario mayors using strong mayor powers, and around two per cent, less than 90 decisions, have actually resulted in housing units being built.”

MacLellan continued, “Strong mayor powers are not doing what they are intended to do, also, they are wildly undemocratic. Using strong mayor powers today is unnecessary. This could have been added to our regular agenda, where every vote matters and the public can be involved and comment. Using strong mayor powers allows this to pass with only four votes in favour as opposed to a democratic majority of six. But I guess if you can’t build consensus, you will just take it.”

“Mayor Norcross, you have no mandate from the taxpaying residents of New Tecumseth to do this, and you do not have majority support from your council to do this either. Rescind this directive,” she concluded.

Mayor Norcross defended his position, saying the directive is mandated by the province and that it is his responsibility as mayor to carry it out.

“I’ve always wanted all opinions, including mine, to be heard,” Mayor Norcross said. “We’ve had structured debate with members of our community and members of council. However, the writing is on the wall. The province is mandating this. I’m the mayor, I’m sitting here. I ask anyone else – what would you do? They [the province] are telling me, you will do this, you are going to make this happen.”

The mayor gave several examples of the province overriding municipal decisions.

“They started getting rid of the school boards – their trustees are gone. County councillors – cut in half. They have removed elected officials from regional governments,” he said.

The mayor went on to suggest that future amalgamation with nearby towns is possible.

“I never asked for these powers,” Mayor Norcross said. “The provincial government has made it perfectly clear – make a decision, or we will make it for you.

The vote on the bylaw ended in a tie, with five in favour and five opposed.

With the strong mayor powers, Mayor Norcross only needed support from three other council members for it to pass.

Voting in support of the bylaw were Mayor Norcross, Ward 2 councillor Wendy Gabrek, Ward 3 councillor Paul Foster, Ward 4 councillor Alan Masters, and Ward 8 councillor Andrea Jacks.

Opposed were Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan, Ward 1 councillor Chris Rapin, Ward 5 councillor Marc Biss, Ward 6 councillor Nicole  Cox, and Ward 7 councillor Shira Harrison McIntyre.

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