Rob Ford asks Holyday’s constituents about byelection
Posted August 21, 2013 8:44 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor Rob Ford asked Doug Holyday’s constituents how the councillor should be replaced at a community meeting Wednesday night.
Holyday, who represented Ward 3 and was deputy mayor, will be leaving city hall for a successful run at provincial politics. The Ontario PC candidate is now the MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, winning in a byelection against Liberal Peter Milczyn on Aug. 1.
Ford strongly supports a byelection over an appointment to replace Holyday, an odd move for the famously penny-pinching mayor.
“My personal opinion is that I want a byelection but I’m not here to represent my views,” Ford told those in attendance at the meeting. “I don’t go down to city hall to represent my views I represent your views.”
He also handed out ballots for constituents to mark off which they were in favour of as well as allowed them to voice their opinion on the options.
A byelection is expected to cost between $175,000 and $225,000. Whoever wins – or is appointed – would take office in the fall and have the seat for less than a year. The next general election is October 2014.
“In the coming weeks and months, city council will be wrestling with a number of vital issues, including the 2014 budget,” Ford said in statement.
“These important decisions will have significant impacts on the everyday lives of Toronto residents. A byelection is the only way to ensure the 52,000 residents of Ward 3 have proper representation at city hall during these crucial debates.”
The community meeting was held at Silverthorn Collegiate and was attended by a few dozen community members.
Ford will also be asking his city hall colleagues about Holyday’s replacement and has requested a special council meeting on Aug. 26 to fill the vacant seat.
He appointed Norm Kelly deputy mayor earlier this week.
