Hello. When I first heard about this, I didn’t have any idea that the Premier had this much Power. But if you can imagine, It’s actually written in the Constitution. He has the right. But his timing is wrong. Nevertheless he has introduced legislation to reduce the number of seats on Toronto City Council from 47 to 24 which is nearly half the seats that City Council deploys. Premier Doug Ford is doing this in line with the Federal and Provincial ridings within Toronto. He’s also doing this during an election campaign, which actually started May 1. Naturally, people and Councillors at City Hall are just downright Outraged! He can’t do that in the middle of a Campaign. Councillors are hiring lawyers, they are fighting this. They’re taking the Ontario Government to Court.
Premier Doug Ford is defending his decision. But first, you should know what I think of all this. It’s the right decision. I didn’t know he had this much power. His timing is wrong. But, what would have happened if Doug Ford waited for another four years? Well, I think it would be safe to say that City Councillors would still be upset at the matter. For the record there are 11 Councillors who are in favor of the idea. Also, the media such as the Toronto Star would be opposed. There was a nice column about it in today’s paper. They also had a nice Commentary about our personal security and identity in yesterday’s Commentary. For that I give them thumbs up for our protection. I would encourage you to read it.
We should all remember that Toronto City Council is already slow, bloated, it moves like a snail, it gets things wrong. An example being of a local man who heard from City Hall about a set of stairs that would cost between $65,000 and $150,000. They were to be built at a local park. The man built them himself for $550.00. I think this includes labor and material. The City tore them down and redid them for $10,000. Is that ridiculous?
The things that City has to deal with are housing, garbage, transit, infrastructure (this is roads, bridges and highways), Police. These areas all need funding. It must be voted on by City Councillors. The City Budget must be approved. If you’re the Mayor, you probably want to deal with 24 Councillors instead of 47. And my impression is these Councillors all have to talk to each other and negotiate to get their ideas approved before City Council. Because some, which includes the Mayor, may want more money for the Police, a particular bridge they want built or repaired in their Ward, but they need City approval. You need everybody to be on board. You also need certain departments to call Contractors, to find the right price. To actually build. It all takes time and money. It’s all very slow. It can be expensive as we’ve already seen.
If you’re the Mayor, you probably want to deal with 24 Councillors instead of 47.
I can remember a traffic intersection in Scarborough that always gave an advance green to drivers going into Costco. Every time I saw that light, I was under the impression that Costco was paying or was speaking to someone high up in Government to have that light turn green for drivers. That place was and still is doing a jam up business. Always busy. Lots of cars, lots of people. The advance green helps them. You need help when running a business. City Council can probably help you.
The Opposition is well opposed. No surprise there. Andrea Horwath, the leader of the oppostion is accusing Doug Ford of hiding this from the taxpayers, that he was planning this from the beginning. Also that he’s trying to settle some scores from the days when he was a Councillor. Which was for only one term.
But when you really look at it, and what the people think, they see this as a bit shocking. It’s done so soon, during an election campaign which nobody was really paying attention to, and a lot of angry people at City Hall and Queen’s Park. Doug said in all his career as a politician, he’s never had anyone tell him that they need more politicians. When it really comes down to it, people don’t really care about politicians. Even if they are about to lose their job. Which, this is shocking for them. But 11 of them are in favor of the slashing. They are very confident in winning.
But ultimately, nobody is going to miss these Councillors or remember them. I honestly don’t know who represents me locally in Mississauga. I’ve never paid attention to that. But, Rightly or Wrongly, people see government as fat, privileged, dysfunctional, self-serving, slow-moving bureaucracies that talk a great deal and accomplish very little. And that’s the truth. We know they’re screaming mad. And Andrea Horwath supports big big big government.
Today in Question Period at Queen’s Park the leader of the opposition had to defend her colleague after the Members opposite accused him of using a racial slur. It was awful. The Speaker had to close the session. When it continued, the government refused to answer any questions from the NDP, unless they apologized, which they never did. Outside the Legislature, Andrea Horwath defended her colleague and accused the Government of trying to close the session so that they wouldn’t have to answer any questions on the issue of City Council.
I think her colleague did say something that was very offensive.
But I’m not sure. This is a very close call. I can’t imagine Andrea Horwath being a liar. But she defended him at every turn. After that, she would have to be lying not just to Parliament, but also to the People. I just can’t say. What got the Governing Tories so upset? Is it a misunderstanding?
No matter what, these two parties have dug in and are going in opposite directions. They both have different ideas on how to run the Province. It’s going to be long and very loud in the Chamber for the next little while. Wait till there’s a budget. Tories will reduce taxes and dippers will double the size of government. That’s nothing to be proud of. I admire Premier Doug Ford for building a legacy. He may lose the next election, but they will NEVER change his legislation to reduce the number of Toronto City Councillors from 47 to 24. The Tories got something done. Yes!
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