DURHAM -- The New Year brought new powers to Ontario municipalities including Durham Region.

Amendments proclaimed to the Municipal Act on Jan. 1, give municipalities new broad powers and legislative freedoms.

"This enables municipalities to act a little more like adults rather than the children of the Province," Regional Chairman Roger Anderson said. "This new act gives municipalities a little more autonomy."

The Municipal Act governs the extent of powers and duties, internal organization and structure of municipalities in Ontario, and according to Mr. Anderson, the recent changes show the Province starting to see municipalities as responsible, accountable governments. The broader powers enable municipalities to better determine the appropriate mechanisms for delivering municipal services to their communities.

Related story: Amendments to Municipal Act

Among the highlights of the changes, Mr. Anderson said, is that heads of council and municipal councils will be more accountable to the operations of municipalities. Municipalities are now able to appoint an integrity commissioner or an ombudsman. "It will be better when municipalities have the authority to deal with complaints in a hands-free manner," Mr. Anderson said.

As well, municipalities won't be able to hold special meetings without proper notification and only under certain conditions.

Mr. Anderson said he thinks that change grew out of a concern that too many municipalities were having closed door meetings.

"For the Region of Durham that won't be a problem," Mr. Anderson stated. "I think in the last 10 years we have had one special meeting."

These changes to the Municipal Act, Mr. Anderson said, is something the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has been working towards for some time.

According to the AMO website, municipalities will be better positioned to strengthen good governance, encourage economic growth, and promote a high quality of life as a result of improvements in this legislation. Oshawa Mayor John Gray is pleased with the change saying it will enable municipalities to set bylaw fines, put in speed bumps, improve accountability and complete other routine tasks without having to go to the Province for permission.

"It recognizes that we don't need Queen's Park to oversee mundane stuff, we don't need hand holding from the Province," the mayor said. "There is maturity developing among municipalities, we know how to run local government."

A full report will be brought to the Region's finance and administration committee in January outlining opportunities the amendments present, new rules and identifying plans on how the Region will deal with the changes.