Toronto-area NDP MPPs call on Tory to withdraw request for additional powers
Posted November 23, 2022 10:07 pm.
Toronto members of the Ontario NDP are calling on Mayor John Tory to request that a new bill giving him additional powers be withdrawn.
In a letter sent to the mayor on Wednesday night, Toronto-area MPPs say they were “deeply disappointed” to learn that Tory made a deal with Premier Doug Ford to pass legislation that would allow him to make key decisions with only one-third support of council members.
The call Bill 39 a “slippery slope” in which democratic controls are continuously overwritten, opening the door for “backroom deals and scandals.”
“Bill 39 is an egregious assault on the democratic rights of the people of Toronto and undermines the integrity of the recent municipal election,” reads the letter. “To now learn that you asked the Premier to give you the power to govern the city with the support of only 8 councillors… is a deep betrayal of the people’s trust.”
“Bill 39’s attack on our democratic rights will be your legacy.”
???? ONDP Toronto Caucus has written an open letter to Mayor Tory asking him to withdraw his reckless request for #Bill39.
No one in Canada – not even the Premier & Prime Minister – have the power to rule with a minority vote.
No one can be trusted with so much power.#onpoli pic.twitter.com/qvytWXP0pw
— Kristyn Wong-Tam ???????? (@kristynwongtam) November 23, 2022
The letter is signed by Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York), Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), Marit Stiles (Davenport), Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto-Centre), Tom Rakocevic (Humber River-Black Creek), Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest), Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth), Bhutilla Karpoche (Parkdale-High Park), and Jill Andrew (Toronto-St. Paul’s).
Coun. Josh Matlow also called for Tory to rescind a request for additional powers just as the mayor was about to be presented with the chain of office during the first meeting of the 2022-2026 term of Toronto city council on Wednesday.
“Without revealing this to the public during the election or any consultation with your colleagues who were also duly elected by the people of Toronto, you impugned the privilege of this assembly… by requesting that Premier Ford provide you undemocratic, minority-rule powers that are unprecedented in any democratically elected body anywhere in the world,” he said.
Tory said afterwards he would only utilize the new powers on “housing and transit matters of city-wide importance,” adding he would always try to forge a consensus through the normal council process.
