Friends,
I know many of you are angry, like I am, at Premier Ford's announcement that he plans to reduce the size of Council from 47 to 25. This undemocratic action from the provincial government is effecting our City's future without consulting us, the residents, on how we want to be governed. I can assure you, Council is moving forward with every means available to reverse this proposal.
[su_pullquote]Residents of our City deserve a say in how their municipal government is organized[/su_pullquote] For over two years the ward boundary consultation process "Draw the Lines" held community consultations, meetings with stakeholders, and forums with community groups. Toronto residents shared their desire to have a City Council that more effectively represented our growing population. The resulting 47-ward recommendation was endorsed by City Council and upheld at the Ontario Municipal Board and the Ontario Superior Court. Now, the Premier is erasing years of work and consultation to push through his own agenda. No matter your view on the number of Councillors, unilaterally altering an election mid-campaign is simply undemocratic and wrong.
[su_pullquote]At Council yesterday we voted to send City legal to fight this proposal in court.[/su_pullquote]We also put forward a request to the province that a binding referendum is held. There will also be an emergency City Council meeting on August 20 to update the City on the legal proceedings. Unfortunately, until then, a lot is still up in the air. Our City Clerk directly stated at Council she does not have the ability to hold an election on October 22nd if nominations close on September 14th, as the advance polls open on October 6th.
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