:format(webp)/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/politics/provincial/2022/12/07/doug-ford-denies-hes-trampling-on-democracy-with-strong-mayor-powers-for-john-tory/ford_tory.jpg "Doug Ford denies he’s ‘trampling on democracy’ with strong-mayor powers for John Tory")
Premier Doug Ford insists it is not “trampling on democracy” to give Toronto Mayor John Tory the power to ram through bylaws with the backing of only one-third of city council.
On the defensive as his contentious legislation, Bill 39, is set to pass Thursday, Ford said the mayor deserves the additional authority.
“Mayor Tory got more votes than all the councillors combined,” the premier said Wednesday in Brampton.
“And so having a councillor that scrapes in with 3,000 votes and has the same voting power as the mayor, that’s what’s trampling on democracy.”
On Oct. 24, Tory received 342,158 votes while the 25 councillors elected received a total of 306,041.
The councillor who won the most votes was Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul’s) with 22,670, while rookie Jamaal Myers (Ward 23, Scarborough North) was elected with just 5,315 votes.
“They all want to hold on to their power, I get it, I’ve been down there,” said Ford, who was a councillor when his late brother, Rob Ford, was mayor from 2010 until 2014.
“But at the end of the day, it’s the mayor standing in front of the microphone — like I do — answering all the tough questions, being held accountable,” the premier said.
“He’s responsible for running the city and for him to have one vote, that’s just not acceptable.”
While Tory requested the additional power, which was not in the original strong-mayor legislation that passed in September, he has insisted he can be trusted not to abuse it.
On Tuesday, 15 of 25 councillors sent a joint letter to Ford and Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, urging them to halt Bill 39.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who is the only other chief magistrate to be granted the same extraordinary powers, has said he would not use any of the strong-mayor authority.
Ford, who maintained the changes are needed to expedite the construction of 1.5 million new homes in the next decade to alleviate Ontario’s housing crisis, hinted that Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown could soon enjoy similar privileges.
The premier praised Brown for the “pro-growth perspective we need as we look to expand strong mayor powers to select municipalities.”
“Our government is going to work with local leaders like Mayor Brown to say ‘yes’ (and) together we will build Ontario,” he said.
But Ford had some choice words for “disingenuous” Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who has expressed concern about the Progressive Conservatives’ changes to housing policy that could hurt municipal coffers because development charges would be waived for affordable housing construction.
“We have a few mayors that … don’t want to play in the sandbox and one being Mayor Crombie,” he said.
“I don’t know what her issue is, but … I see Mayor Crombie is out there handing out flyers and … all I say is, get on board,” the premier said.
“You know, Mississauga has increased their fees on new homebuyers by nearly 30 per cent in the last two years alone. I’m asking for partnership with Mayor Crombie.”
Crombie was not immediately available for comment.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)