New comprehensive powers will be granted to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, giving them responsibility for preparing the municipal budget for council approval as well as the ability to appoint department heads and veto some decisions made by council members.

The new legislation was officially introduced at Queen's Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The proposed changes outlined in the legislation will allow the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa to override the council’s approval of bylaws when they believe the use of the veto "will advance a regional priority."

However, they would have to override the entire bylaw and would not have the ability to pick specific aspects or amendments to block.

There is also nothing in the legislation that would allow empowered mayors to pass bylaws without council approval.

The Ford government has not provided a list of items that may be considered a "regional priority" at this stage, although a ministry official speaking off the record during a technical briefing said there would be "regulatory-making authority" contained in the legislation that would allow the government to "set provincial priorities."

The official said the government's plan to build 1.5 million homes over the next decade is likely to qualify as a regional priority, as well as the need for "critical infrastructure around road crossings and things like that."

However, ministry officials say the way the legislation is written will effectively mean it is up to the mayor to decide whether the bylaw they are vetoing actually conflicts with a particular regional priority.

This veto can only be overridden by a two-thirds vote of city council, which must occur within 21 days of its use.

Appointment authority and fire chiefs The legislation was introduced about three weeks after news first emerged that the Ford government was considering giving strong, U.S.-style mayoral powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa.

In addition to the veto, the legislation also provides a range of new and enhanced powers to the mayors of Ontario’s two largest cities.

One major change will see the responsibility for preparing budgets shift from the entire city council to the office of the mayor.

City council will still have to approve the budget and may pass amendments, although the mayor will have a separate veto option to override those amendments.

The changes will also give the mayor authority to appoint the chief administrative officer, hire fire chiefs, and create or reorganize departments.

The ministry says these powers, however, will not apply to legal appointments, such as the police chief or medical officer of health.

Speaking with CP24 earlier Wednesday before the legislation details were unveiled, Toronto Mayor John Tory said even with enhanced powers his approach to being mayor "will not change" if re-elected in October.

"From my point of view, this will not change the way I do my job. My job is to work with every member of city council who wants to work with me and keep doing that but ultimately I also want to find as many ways as possible to get things done faster, to get more housing built faster and to ensure the transit plan we agreed on with the governments is built."

If the proposed legislation is approved, it will come into effect at the start of the next council term on November 15.

Premier Doug Ford has previously said he is open to expanding the enhanced powers to include mayors of other large cities, but it will apply only to Toronto and Ottawa for now.