What Windsor's outgoing council can't do until Nov. 14
Windsor's outgoing council is a "lame duck" until Nov. 14. Under Ontario's Municipal Act, it can't hire or fire staff, sell City property worth over $50K, or spend over $50K, unless it's in the budget or an emergency. windsornewsdesk.ca
Topics: Money and taxesCouncil and City Hall
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Windsor's outgoing city council has entered what is often called a "lame duck" period, and Ontario law limits what it can decide before its term ends.
City Clerk Steve Vlachodimos told CBC News the current council's term ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, and the new council takes office at midnight on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Why the limits apply
Section 275 of Ontario's Municipal Act applies when fewer than three-quarters of an outgoing council's members will sit on the new council. Windsor elected a new mayor, Fred Francis, and five new councillors on Oct. 26, so most of the 11-member council is changing.
What the outgoing council can't do
Under section 275, the outgoing council cannot:
appoint or remove any officer of the City
hire or dismiss any City employee
sell or dispose of City property worth more than $50,000
make any expenditure, or take on any liability, over $50,000
The exceptions
The limits on property sales and spending do not apply if the item was in the most recent budget council adopted before nomination day. The law does not stop the City acting in an emergency, and authority that council delegated to staff before nomination day continues.
What comes next
The outgoing council's last regular meeting is Monday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. The new council's inaugural meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 16, and its first regular business meeting is Monday, Nov. 23.
Sources: Municipal Act, 2001, s. 275 (Ontario e-Laws); CBC News, Oct. 27, 2026; City of Windsor 2026 meeting schedule.
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