Toronto city council holding emergency meeting after province revives bill to cut council
Thu., Sept. 13, 2018
Toronto
city council gathers Thursday to respond to Premier Doug Ford’s
unprecedented push to cut council almost in half. Whether the city can
logistically hold a 25-seat election on Oct. 22 — with or without
advance voting, any legal options for the city to fight Ford’s use of
the notwithstanding clause, and Mayor John Tory’s push for a referendum
on council size will all be on the table.
Province appeals judge’s ruling on Toronto council cut
The
session follows a raucous day Wednesday at Queen’s Park with protesters
handcuffed and turfed, and most New Democrat MPPs ejected for banging
on their desks and shouting as the Ford government tabled the renamed
Efficient Local Government Act.
The Ford government decided to use
the Charter of Rights “notwithstanding” clause for the first time in
Ontario history, to ensure the bill can withstand any other court
challenge.
Earlier in the week, an Ontario Superior Court judge
struck down the Better Local Government Act — slashing the number of
Toronto city councillors from 47 to 25 — for violating the Charter.
The latest bill isn’t expected to be passed before Sept. 24.
The
PC government tabled a new bill in the legislature in its second
attempt to reduce the number of Toronto’s wards to 25 from 47 for next
month’s municipal election. (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star)
Candidates will have two more days to register to run in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
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