Mahsa Moulavi
DARE Project: Making Sense of Recent Legislative Changes to Ontario's Municipal Governments
Program(s) of Study: Public Administration
Project Supervisor: Zachary Spicer
I hope this research helps clarify the changes in local democracy in Ontario.
Project Description:
My DARE project examined how the government of Premier Doug Ford has transformed the municipal landscape in Ontario. Since 2018, a series of legislative interventions have altered how city councils operate, who holds decision-making power, and how municipalities respond to provincial direction. Working under the supervision of Professor Zachary Spicer, I focused on one under-examined outcome: how municipalities appoint and use Deputy Mayors. I analyzed procedural bylaws, council minutes, and local policies from across the province to build a verified, source-based inventory of Deputy Mayor roles. My work involved detailed document review, data input, and policy mapping, creating an original dataset that reveals how governance is evolving at the local level.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.