Stevenson proposes stronger Council oversight and an accessible Mayor’s Office

LONDON, ON — Mayoral candidate Susan Stevenson is proposing changes to Council oversight, independent scrutiny, senior administration, and access to the Mayor’s Office under her Leadership That Shows Up platform commitment.

“Londoners elect councillors to represent their neighbourhoods. Those voices must count,” said Stevenson. “I will fulfil the mayor’s responsibilities, including bringing forward a budget, but I will not use the strong mayor veto. I will make the case publicly, welcome debate, and build support.”

Stevenson would seek earlier access to complete agenda materials and financial information, explain late additions, and review delegated powers to return significant policy and spending decisions back to Council where permitted. A public register would identify significant delegated decisions, the authority used, and their financial impact.

A Finance Committee would review financials quarterly, including line by line actual spending against budget, reserves, contingency accounts, debt, forecasts, and corrective action. Changes to the Public Notice Policy would seek residents’ input before decisions.

Stevenson would bring forward an independent municipal Auditor General and a confidential fraud and waste hotline, with defined responsibilities, a published budget, public findings where permitted, and tracked management responses. The proposal would explain how the role works with or replaces existing audit services.

She would also review senior management layers, responsibilities, vacancies, and executive costs, then present a restructuring plan to reduce the size and cost of the top administration while protecting front-line service delivery.

“Council needs the detail to govern, and Londoners need to see what changes when a problem is identified,” Stevenson said. “Independent scrutiny must lead to action.”

Stevenson would publish a Mayor’s Office cell phone number and response standards, hold rotating office days across London, and follow up on unresolved concerns. Easy-to-find attendance and significant voting records would include the mayor’s record, alongside annual updates on platform commitments and outstanding work.

In her first 100 days, Stevenson would begin the access measures, table the oversight proposals, launch the delegation and senior management reviews, and establish reporting dates. Costs would be brought forward within her municipal tax commitment: under 1% in 2027 and 2028, with zero as the goal, and inflation or less in 2029 and 2030.

“I will hold myself to the same standard I ask of Council and City administration,” Stevenson said. “Leadership means doing the work and accepting responsibility for the results.”