Majority of Toronto council signs letter urging province to pause passage of ‘strong mayor’ bill

More than half of Toronto city council has signed a letter urging Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark to reconsider Bill 39, which gives John Tory ‘strong mayor’ powers.

“We consider Bill 39, and, from a personal perspective, [that] it has no place in a democracy. For anyone to rule with one-third of the votes as opposed to a majority which is the standard in every board, every agency, non-profits, corporation, and then every legislature,” said Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo, one of the 15 councillors who signed the letter.

Each councillor said they are concerned that business at Toronto city hall could be done without them and does not allow them to weigh in on “the impacts on the checks and balances of power that would result from the loss of majority rule.”

University-Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe said, with the letter, they are asking the province to hold off on the passing of the bill.

“They’ve not demonstrated a justification for doing it in such a hurry. I have repeatedly called for a proper staff report analyzing how strong mayor powers work, and other cities,” said Saxe.

Mayor John Tory released a statement shortly after the letter was shared.

“I’ve been clear that my leadership style and overall approach, consistently demonstrated over eight years, will not change. I will continue to work collaboratively with the Council to get things done, as we have done together for two terms,” he said.

RELATED: Toronto-area NDP MPPs call on Tory to withdraw request for additional powers

“Even with the provincial changes set to be approved at Queen’s Park this week, my determination to always try to reach a council consensus on the issues our city faces remains steadfast.”

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, who is also the councillor for Scarborough-Rouge Park, did not sign the letter.

“He’s been clear that it would only be on matters of transit or housing the city-wide importance,” said McKelvie.

“That it would be preceded by a city of Toronto staff report, and it would only happen if there was no consensus that could be found through council. I feel that as councillors, this puts a little pressure on us to find that consensus.”

The “strong mayor” powers would also extend to Ottawa, but city council there, including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, unanimously passed a motion last week opposing Bill 39 and requested the province keep existing majority rules intact.

“The increasingly common view that this is not democratic is very valid in my opinion because it takes away the power of voters who are told if you just elect a councillor from your zone your area that person will represent you,” Conrad Winn, a political science professor at Carleton University, told CityNews.

“I think it’s a disaster and I think it’s in keeping with a gradual tendency for democratic principles to be in decline.

“The short-term effect would be to make mayors and, in some cases, other officials who control the operation of councils, dictators.”

When asked what message they are hoping to get across to the province, Bravo said, “I think the messages that we as a council can come together and work across our political differences, different points of view, every corner of the city. This is what council is about. It’s about people sitting together and considering and reflecting and deliberating policy of the future of the city.”

Read the letter in full below:

Letter from City Councillors on Bill 39 by CityNewsToronto on Scribd