The falsehood of “Better Local Government”

Doug Ford’s bill to slash Toronto city council hurts student representation 

On July 26, 2018, Doug Ford’s Ontario government announced its intention to slash Toronto’s City Council from 44 wards to only 25, throwing this fall’s municipal election into disarray mere months before voting day on October 22. The Ford government justified this move by claiming that, from Ford’s personal experience, Toronto’s city council is “increasingly dysfunctional and inefficient,” and that “[a] streamlined Toronto City Council would empower Toronto’s mayor and help ensure […] an efficient and effective municipal government.” Despite coating the announcement in language of efficiency and fiscal responsibility, Ford’s move appears to be vengeance towards both the council and city that had stood in the way of both his own agenda and that of his late brother and former Toronto mayor, Rob Ford. The emphasis on empowering the mayor is a pointed response to the council’s censure of Rob in 2013, and the reduction of the individual representation of Torontonians comes after the city rejected Doug Ford’s politics—first during his failed bid for mayor in 2014, and now as Premier of Ontario in 2018.  

As a response to Ford’s cuts, the City Council of Toronto voted on August 20 to challenge the Ford government in court. While many councillors have emerged as strong defenders of local democracy, the response from Mayor John Tory has been lacklustre at best. Sensing the urgent political mood, he eventually came out as an ‘opponent’ of the cuts, but only because of their timing—his frustrations are not with the reduced representation, but rather with the process. As the provincial press release suggests, Tory would have much to gain from Bill 5—a smaller council would make it far easier for him to imprint his agenda onto Toronto, and he has shown himself willing to work closely with Ford in the past.  

These cuts are especially harmful to students of Toronto’s three downtown universities, including UofT. At the base level, the council cuts greatly undermine the representation of all citizens of Toronto by increasing the average ratio of councillor-constituent from one councillor per 58,119 citizens to one councillor per 109,263. Compounding matters, the downtown neighbourhoods where many students live are projected to grow much more quickly than the rest of the city over the coming decades. The municipal government was scheduled to implement a council expansion that followed a new 47-ward boundary model in time for the municipal election. This plan was intended to increase representation in downtown by adding three new wards to student-heavy areas. The 47-ward boundary is no longer intact, as Ford’s “Better Local Government Act” has passed, reshaping the format of council to specifically under-represent and undermine the downtown core. The bill’s benefactors are mainly comprised of councillors who represent the inner suburbs, and many of them support the cuts. Student voices will simply be dampened under the new council model. If Ford wins in court, expect student issues such as transit, affordable housing, and cycling to become shelved as council becomes weaker and increasingly aligned with the goals of the Ford government.  

Ultimately, this legislation and the ensuing reaction has shown that Toronto needs strong leadership, which is not being provided by its current mayor. The Ford government is governing directly in opposition to Toronto, and John Tory is willing to be an active partner in diminishing Toronto’s autonomy. Toronto needs leadership that will forcefully stand against policies aimed at setting our city back. It is imperative for Torontonians, especially university students who may have recently turned of voting age, to elect a strong progressive candidate as mayor this October. Polling suggests Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former Chief City Planner, is the only forward-thinking candidate with a shot at toppling Tory. When you vote this fall, consider that Tory, the incumbent, doesn’t seem strongly opposed to Toronto operating as a mere creature of Doug Ford’s Ontario. Keesmaat has shown through her actions and words that she will be a strong voice for Toronto, and that she has a vision for Toronto as a modern world city. Go out and vote in October to preserve our democracy.  

Update: After Ford’s cuts were declared unconstitutional in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Premier invoked section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows him to proceed in spite of the ruling. By using this “notwithstanding clause,” the Ford government is admitting that the council cuts violate Torontonians’ constitutional right to freedom of expression. Ford has decided that exacting revenge on Toronto City Council is more important than Canadians’ fundamental freedoms.