Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to reduce the size of Toronto city council by nearly half prompted an outcry from Mayor John Tory Friday, who said the move was “not fair.”
But Ford has the power to cut the city’s council from 47 to 25 seats — and make several other changes — under the Canadian constitution, University of Toronto politics professor Nelson Wiseman explained.
READ MORE: Ontario to introduce legislation to cut Toronto city council seats by nearly half
“They can do whatever they want with municipalities,” he said, giving the 1998 amalgamation of Toronto as an example.
“Twenty-five years ago, Scarborough wasn’t part of the City of Toronto, nor was North York,” he said.
“The government amalgamated the various burroughs and the City of Toronto. The provincial government can do that, it can do this.”
WATCH: Doug Ford introducing legislation to reduce size, cost of government
It can even do things like decide the mayor will be appointed by council, rather than elected, Wiseman said.
The Constitution Act spells out the rules in section 92, subsection 8.
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“In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,” section 92 reads.
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Subsection 8 adds: “Municipal Institutions in the Province.”
But provinces, in practice, don’t run free with power. That’s because they have to take public opinion into account.
WATCH: Doug Ford announces plan to cut size of Toronto city council
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Ford chuckles at Tory saying he thought he wasn’t serious about cuts -
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Ford chuckles at Tory saying he thought he wasn’t serious about cuts -
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Ford says he consulted with ‘thousands of people’ on government cuts -
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Ford says he was ‘pretty clear’ on reducing the cost of government -
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Ford putting pause on legislation by Liberals in municipalities
Tory, who was notably upset with Ford’s announcement, can appeal to the public for support, Wiseman said.
“The mayor has his pulpit. He can try to rally public opinion. Politicians don’t like to go against public opinion, so that’s a form of persuasion,” the professor explained.
If that is what Tory chooses to do, he will have support of some key figures, including former city councilor and current Liberal MP Adam Vaughan.
READ MORE: Ottawa prepared to work around Ontario’s ‘vindictive and destructive’ actions, Adam Vaughan says
In an interview with Global News, Vaughan said the move could “break Toronto.” He promised the federal government would back the city.
“The federal government will not forget that at the end of the day Torontonians are Canadians, as well,” he said.
WATCH: John Tory reacts to province’s plan to cut size of council
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Tory ‘angry at the process’ over Ford proposal to cut TO city council -
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Tory ‘angry at the process’ over Ford proposal to cut TO city council -
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Tory said Ford had mentioned cutting of Toronto’s city council -
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‘Just not right’: Tory wants a legal opinion on Ford city council cuts -
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Tory had ‘animated’ conversation with Ford over cuts to city council -
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‘Absolutely not right’: Tory slams Ford cutting Toronto’s city council
There’s also the fact that the move is something that Ford has merely promised, Wiseman noted. There are still many steps needed for it to be in force by the October 2018 municipal election.
The bill will have to go through the entire legislative process — house readings, debate, and possible committee deliberation.
WATCH: Adam Vaughan rips Ford plan on reducing council seats
“He wants to do it. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Wiseman said.
Ford, however, does have a majority government, which should make it easier for him to realize his plan.
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