Brantford’s Deputy Mayor of External Relations: What This New Role Means for the City

Brantford has created a new Deputy Mayor of External Relations position and Councillor Rose Sicoli is taking the helm. In a nutshell, Mayor Kevin Davis appointed Sicoli under new provincial “strong mayor” powers to help the city deal with other levels of government and outside pressures. This comes at a time when global trade winds are blowing cold, tariff threats loom, and cities like Brantford need all the help they can get to protect local interests.

TL;DR:

• Stronger Voice for Brantford: Rose Sicoli’s appointment as Deputy Mayor of External Relations gives Brantford a dedicated advocate to navigate tricky economic waters and speak up for the city with other governments.
• Boosting Mayor & City Leadership: Mayor Kevin Davis gains an experienced intergovernmental hand to help align local policies with provincial and federal priorities, especially amid shifting trade and tariff challenges. Sicoli’s background with AMO and FCM means Brantford’s leadership bench just got deeper.
• ‘Two Heads are Better’ (with Caution): The new deputy mayor can share the mayor’s workload and focus on external issues, but clarity is key as overlapping duties or political mixed messages could confuse who’s in charge of what.
• Lessons from Other Cities: Brantford isn’t alone as cities like Toronto have multiple deputy mayors for regional balance, Ottawa rotates deputies among councillors, and even Vancouver has a roster of acting mayors. These examples show both the benefits of extra leadership and the importance of defining the role clearly.
• Strong Mayor Powers in Action: This move is a direct product of Ontario’s “strong mayor” powers. It highlights how Mayor Davis is using these powers (sparingly) to strategically strengthen Brantford’s voice externally, rather than to steamroll council decisions.

Why Brantford Created a Deputy Mayor of External Relations

This is a title that admittedly sounds a bit grandiose, but it serves a down-to-earth purpose. This role is all about helping the city deal with forces outside our city limits. Think provincial policies, federal funding opportunities, trade issues, and partnerships with other municipalities. Mayor Kevin “BigKev” Davis announced that Councillor Rose Sicoli will take on this inaugural role, citing that “the City’s efforts in intergovernmental and external relations have never been more vital given current global trade and tariff uncertainties.” In plainer terms: with economic storm clouds on the horizon, Brantford wants a dedicated point person to make sure our city’s voice is heard in the halls of power beyond Brantford.

This move was made possible by the Province of Ontario’s new strong-mayor legislation, which lets mayors appoint a deputy and delegate responsibilities. Mayor Davis is using those powers here, not to bulldoze local council decisions, but to bolster Brantford’s external advocacy. By creating a Deputy Mayor focused outward, Brantford is effectively saying: “We’re serious about collaborating with others and protecting our interests in a choppy global economy.”

There’s also a strategic trade advantage here. Brantford’s economy doesn’t exist in a bubble as our manufacturers, businesses, and even housing market are tied to broader trends. (I wrote about how U.S. tariffs could impact things like the housing market in a previous post on this site. The ripple effects are real.) By having Sicoli focus externally, the city can better protect local jobs and interests. She can work with other municipalities facing similar issues and form a united front, say, through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) or Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), where she’s already been representing Brantford. In short, this role strengthens Brantford’s leadership by adding capacity to handle the big outside stuff, while the rest of council and staff keep the day-to-day city business on track.

Mayor Davis’s Perspective: An Ally in Intergovernmental Relations

From Mayor Kevin Davis’s vantage point, appointing Rose Sicoli as his Deputy Mayor of External Relations is a bit like adding a seasoned co-pilot for a long flight. Davis remains captain, but now he has someone highly familiar with the route and radio communications helping navigate. Sicoli has been deeply involved in intergovernmental files, attending AMO and FCM conferences, and making connections at Queen’s Park (Ontario’s legislature) which means she’s already fluent in the language of other governments. For Mayor Davis, that’s a huge asset. It allows him to split the workload: while he focuses on running the city and delivering on local priorities, Sicoli can zero in on liaising with provincial ministers, federal MPs, and neighbouring municipalities on behalf of Brantford.

This division of labour can make the mayor’s office more effective overall. Davis campaigned on advancing Brantford’s growth and well-being, and part of that involves securing provincial/federal support (think infrastructure dollars, social services funding, pandemic recovery aid, etc.). By having Sicoli dedicated to external relations, Mayor Davis in effect gains a trusted envoy. She can attend meetings or events he can’t, ensure Brantford’s perspective is voiced in regional forums, and report back so nothing falls through the cracks. It’s a bit like having a foreign minister for the city: someone who represents Brantford’s interests abroad (using “abroad” loosely to mean outside City Hall).

Another advantage for the mayor is continuity and expertise. City councillors often rotate duties (Brantford historically has had a Mayor of the Month system for acting mayor duties), but not everyone has the same knack or interest in intergovernmental work. By picking Sicoli (who has shown passion and talent in that area) Davis ensures the person doing the outreach is the best person for the job, not just whoever’s turn it is. This likely means fewer missteps or mixed messages when dealing with the province and beyond. It also frees Mayor Davis to concentrate his energies where they’re most needed internally, knowing that an experienced colleague is handling the external file.

On a political level, one might say Mayor Davis also gains a surrogate: someone who can amplify his agenda and build consensus for Brantford’s needs across other governments. Strong intergovernmental relations can pay off in spades. (Picture Brantford getting invited to pilot a new provincial program, or snagging a federal grant ahead of other cities because our delegation did solid advocacy.) Sicoli’s appointment signals to the province and federal government that Brantford is serious about collaboration. That likely reflects well on Mayor Davis’s leadership, as it shows he’s leveraging his team’s strengths, not trying to do everything solo. In the context of Ontario’s strong mayor system, it demonstrates a collaborative use of power: rather than unilaterally dictating council matters, Davis is using his new authority to augment the city’s capacity in a critical area.

Potential Drawbacks to Brantford’s Deputy Mayor of External Relations: Overlap, Confusion, or Too Much Power?

No change comes without a few wrinkles. While the Deputy Mayor of External Relations role has clear upsides, we should keep an eye on potential drawbacks or risks:

Redundancy or Role Overlap: Brantford already has a Mayor (obviously) and a capable CAO and staff who handle a lot of intergovernmental liaison behind the scenes. One might ask: do we risk “too many cooks in the kitchen” with a deputy mayor in the mix? If Sicoli’s role isn’t clearly defined, there could be overlap between what she does and what city staff (or the mayor himself) might do. For instance, if a provincial announcement drops, do other governments call the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, or city staff? Clear protocols will be needed to avoid duplicated efforts or, worse, mixed messages. The last thing Brantford needs is the province hearing one thing from the Mayor and another from the Deputy Mayor. Mayor Davis acknowledged this concern indirectly by clarifying that the traditional Mayor of the Month system will continue for day-to-day ceremonial duties, implying Sicoli’s focus will be more strategic. Still, balancing the old rotation system with this new fixed role could be tricky unless council updates its governance structure formally.

Political Confusion or Resentment: In a council setting, titles carry weight. Naming one councillor as Deputy Mayor of External Relations could inadvertently ruffle feathers among other councillors. Some might wonder, Why her and not me? or “Will my input on provincial matters be less valued now?” It’s important that this move isn’t seen as sidelining anyone, or creating a “Mayor’s favourite” scenario. Communication with council will be key, ideally Sicoli acts as a facilitator, bringing council’s collective concerns forward externally, rather than being seen as a lone agent. Additionally, the public might be a bit confused at first about who does what. (A resident might ask: If I have a concern about a provincial policy, do I go to the Mayor, my ward councillor, or the Deputy Mayor of External Relations?) The city will need to explain the role clearly to avoid chain-of-command confusion.

Over-centralization of Authority: One of the criticisms of the strong mayor system is that it can centralize too much power in the mayor’s office. By adding a Deputy Mayor (especially one hand-picked by the Mayor without a council vote, thanks to those provincial powers), some might worry about power being further concentrated. Essentially, we have an unelected (city-wide) second-in-command, since Sicoli was elected as a ward councillor, not by the whole city as a mayor is. If not handled carefully, this could lead to perceptions of an inner circle running the show at City Hall. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will need to demonstrate transparency and that they’re enhancing overall governance, not conducting business in a silo. So far this appointment looks like it was made for practical reasons, not political patronage. But moving forward, council should probably set some checks and expectations for the deputy role, to reassure that it’s a team effort.

Evolution of the Role: Another potential challenge is simply uncertainty because this role is new and will evolve. Other cities have grappled with defining deputy mayor duties. For example, Vancouver normally shares “acting mayor” duties among all councillors, but recently there was controversy when the Mayor tried to restrict those duties to his party members. That tells us that politics can creep into these appointments. Brantford will want to avoid any perception of partisanship or exclusivity. If the Deputy Mayor of External Relations role proves effective, great, but if it becomes too politicized or if a future mayor misuses it (appointing a loyalist who maybe isn’t as qualified as Sicoli, for instance), it could create tension. Essentially, this is a bit of a trial run; how Sicoli performs will set a precedent. Any missteps could fuel critics (and we all know there will be some regardless of the success of this new position) who call the role unnecessary.

The risks revolve around maintaining clarity, fairness, and balance. They aren’t deal-breakers by any means, just points to watch. Brantford’s council and Mayor Davis will need to periodically review how the experiment is going. If lines of communication remain open (so councillors still feel involved in external issues) and the public sees improved results (like quicker action on economic issues or successful advocacy wins), these concerns will likely fade.

How Other Cities Use Deputy Mayors

Brantford isn’t the first Canadian municipality to toy with the idea of deputy mayors though each city does it a bit differently. To put Brantford’s move in context, let’s compare it with Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver (three of the country’s largest cities) as well as a few “peer cities ( Burlington, Kingston, Peterborough, Cambridge) each with their own deputy mayor practices

Toronto’s Deputy Mayors

Canada’s biggest city has a whole crew of deputy mayors. Under recent mayors, Toronto designates one statutory Deputy Mayor (essentially the official second-in-command who can step in if the mayor is away or the office is vacant) and then a handful of non-statutory deputy mayors who are given the title to assist with ceremonial duties and special projects. For instance, Mayor Olivia Chow has one statutory deputy (Councillor Ausma Malik) and has named three additional deputy mayors representing different parts of the city (Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York). These additional deputies in Toronto have no formal power under law. It’s more about spreading representation in a vast city and giving the mayor’s agenda some regional champions. Sometimes they’re even tasked to lead specific policy files or act as advisors, like tackling housing or transit issues in their area. Toronto’s approach shows a benefit of having multiple deputies: broader geographic and political inclusion. John Tory, the former mayor, explicitly did this to bring the city together by having a deputy from each region. The flip side in Toronto is that it can be a bit symbolic (non-statutory deputies don’t have extra votes or anything) but it’s a tool to reward senior councillors and ensure the mayor isn’t the only point of contact for a 3 million-strong city.

Ottawa’s Deputy Mayors

The nation’s capital takes a different tack. Ottawa’s city council has traditionally appointed several councillors as Deputy Mayors on a rotating basis. In the current term, they decided to have three deputy mayors at any given time, rotating every six months. Over a four-year term, this rotation means just about every councillor gets a turn wearing the deputy mayor hat for a little while. The deputy mayors in Ottawa basically serve as acting mayor when needed (chairing meetings if the mayor is absent, attending events the mayor can’t, etc.) but at the end of the day it’s largely ceremonial and practical, making sure someone is always available to cut ribbons or sign documents if the mayor is tied up. For example, in the first half of 2023, Councillors Shawn Menard, Laura Dudas, and George Darouze were the designated Deputy Mayors; by early 2025, the titles had passed to Councillors Marty Carr, Cathy Curry, and David Brown. The Ottawa model emphasizes equity and shared responsibility. No one councillor is the permanent deputy; it’s a duty that’s shared around. The advantage is it gives councillors experience and keeps the role from being politicizeda as it’s more of a civic duty than a power position. The drawback is that there’s no single consistent “deputy” voice or long-term external strategy from deputies, since they change regularly. Brantford, by contrast, is going the route of a consistent appointee (closer to Toronto’s statutory deputy concept, but with a specific portfolio).

Vancouver’s Deputy Mayors

Out west, Vancouver’s system has some similarities to Ottawa’s. The city appoints one councillor each month as the Deputy Mayor (or Acting Mayor) on a rotating roster (and also another as a back-up called Duty Councillor). Traditionally, these appointments have been spread among councillors of all parties, it’s seen as a non-partisan, everybody-takes-a-turn function. They handle routine things like greeting dignitaries, running council if the Mayor is away, etc. However, an interesting thing happened recently: Vancouver’s new Mayor, Ken Sim, wanted to limit these roles to members of his majority party, cutting out opposition councillors. He argued it was less confusing for the public if only his allies served as acting mayor, while critics (rightly) pointed out this broke with tradition and seemed a bit punitive to opposition members. This sparked debate in Vancouver’s council about the purpose of deputy mayor roles are they meant to be political tools or just administrative ones? The jury’s still out on that, but it highlights a lesson: if a deputy/acting mayor role is seen as too partisan, it can cause backlash.For Brantford’s purposes, because Sicoli’s role is clearly about external relations and she’s a well-regarded councillor, I suspect we won’t see that kind of friction. Our council is smaller and tends to be less overtly partisan than big city councils. But Vancouver’s experience is a reminder that how you implement these roles matters. Transparency about why someone was chosen and what they’re doing is important to maintain trust.

How Peer Cities Use Deputy Mayors

• Burlington (≈185 000 residents):
  Council appoints six Deputy Mayors with Portfolios, each tied to a key city initiative (Business & Red Tape Reduction; Community Engagement & Partnerships; Environment; Housing; Strategy & Budgets; Recreation & Community Services). They work closely with the Mayor’s office and assigned staff leads, but hold no extra vote—decisions still rest with full council
  
• Kingston (≈136 000 residents):
  Kingston’s Mayor can designate a Deputy Mayor to act in their absence or lead external outreach. During the federal election leave in 2025, Deputy Mayor Vincent Cinanni stepped in to chair meetings and represent the city provincially.
  
• Peterborough (≈82 000 residents):
  City Council names a First Deputy Mayor (Gary Baldwin) and a Second Deputy Mayor (Joy Lachica) for the full term. They share acting-Mayor duties and may spearhead specific files, but retain only their standard councillor vote on motions
  
• Cambridge (≈138 000 residents):
  Council elects one Deputy Mayor each year. In May 2025, Councillor Richard Swift was sworn in to serve as Deputy Mayor to act for the Mayor when required and representing Cambridge on regional boards.

The key takeaway from other cities is that deputy mayors can greatly help a city’s leadership outreach and bandwidth, but success depends on clearly defining the role and keeping cooperation high.

Strong Mayor Powers: A Tool Used Sparingly but Strategically

It’s impossible to talk about Rose Sicoli’s new post without mentioning the elephant in the room: Ontario’s Strong Mayor powers. These were introduced by the Province in 2022 and expanded in 2023-2025, giving mayors in dozens of cities (including Brantford) more authority, from preparing budgets to vetoing certain by-laws and, yes, the ability to create new roles and delegate duties. The Deputy Mayor of External Relations appointment is a direct result of these powers. Mayor Davis didn’t need a council vote to make this happen; he could simply appoint Sicoli using the authority granted under the Municipal Act amendments. This is a prime example of the province’s intention to let mayors get things done quickly on key priorities.

It’s worth noting that across Ontario, most mayors have been cautious in using strong-mayor powers so far. When Barrie’s mayor used one of these powers for the first time in 2024, it actually made headlines because it was so unusual. The media noted that the powers had been “used sparingly by the 46 mayors who have access to them” up to that point. Mayor Davis himself openly sought community input on how to approach the new powers and emphasized he didn’t plan to steamroll development decisions. In fact, his first significant use of them was to push forward a “Canada First” procurement policy in anticipation of U.S. tariffs (a defensive economic move, not a controversial land-use decision). That context makes Sicoli’s appointment feel like a natural and measured use of the strong-mayor toolkit. It aligns perfectly with one of the provincial priorities: fostering economic development and infrastructure. By empowering a deputy to focus on external partnerships and funding, Brantford is arguably furthering the goal of building more homes and better transit (since those often depend on provincial/federal co-operation).

Some might wonder, does this new role enhance the strong mayor system or pose any concerns? I’d argue it actually enhances it in a collaborative fashion. The strong mayor law intends for mayors to move faster on issues, but that doesn’t mean doing it alone, it also can mean deploying your resources smarter. Davis using his power to elevate a fellow elected official (instead of, say, bringing in an outside advisor or concentrating all tasks on himself) shows a team-based interpretation of the law. It could set a positive precedent: that strong mayor powers can be used to strengthen the whole council’s effectiveness, not just the mayor’s individual influence.

Of course, one could also see a flip side. If future mayors create multiple deputy mayors or other positions at will, we might end up with a bloated power structure or confusion (as discussed earlier). The province didn’t explicitly outline deputy mayors of various stripes in the law, it simply gave mayors broad ability to organize the city’s administration. The city’s approach and the outcomes will likely be watched by others. (Fun fact: as of May 2025, Ontario expanded strong-mayor powers to 169 municipalities, so there are a lot of eyes that could be on Brantford’s experience.) If Sicoli’s role yields clear benefits, like tangible economic wins or smoother intergovernmental projects, it may become a model for mid-sized cities. If it flounders, it could be a cautionary tale.

In essence, the Deputy Mayor of External Relations is a smaller case study in how to use strong-mayor powers constructively. It stays true to the spirit of enabling local leaders to act on pressing issues (in this case, external economic threats and opportunities) while still working with the council.

A Bold Move for Brantford’s Future

In appointing Rose Sicoli as Deputy Mayor of External Relations, Brantford is making a forward-looking move. It acknowledges that in today’s world, local issues often have global (or at least provincial/federal) connections. By carving out this role, Mayor Davis and the council are effectively saying they want no stone unturned and no voice unheard when it comes to advocating for Brantford. The timing makes sense: economic currents are shifting, and having a dedicated navigator for those waters will help our city steer steady.

The arrangement brings clear benefits, more bandwidth and expertise in leadership, stronger alignment on policy in turbulent times, and an enhanced ability to grab opportunities (or ward off threats) that come from outside City Hall. It also serves as a clever use of the strong mayor powers, one that could strengthen the whole city government’s effectiveness rather than just concentrating authority. Still, as we discussed, the success of this experiment will depend on execution. Roles must be clear, collaboration must remain high, and council and citizens alike will need to see real value from Sicoli’s work. If she can help land a big grant, influence a policy change, or even just significantly improve communication between Brantford and other governments, those will be wins for everyone.

Comparatively, Brantford’s move puts us a bit on the cutting edge among smaller Ontario cities. We’ve learned from the Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver experiences, adopting what fits and cautioning against what doesn’t. In true Brantford spirit, we’re doing it our own way: a single, focused deputy mayor making sure Brantford isn’t just keeping up with change, but getting ahead of it.

Only time will tell how well the experiment works, but I’m optimistic. Rose Sicoli is widely respected and brings the right skill set to the table. And as a Brantford resident and your local commentator, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how this unfolds, the successes achieved and any lessons learned. One thing’s for sure: in a world where local decisions are increasingly affected by external factors, Brantford is gearing up to punch above its weight. With a Deputy Mayor of External Relations in our corner, we’re saying loud and clear: Brantford is open for collaboration, and ready to face whatever comes our way.