The Ontario Court of Appeal has decided that what Doug Ford did in the middle of Toronto's municipal election was unfair but not unconstitutional. Ford could have waited for the ruling. Instead, he chose to exercise the nuclear option. In the final analysis, the appellate court has underscored the first court's conclusion. The premier's judgment can't be trusted. Martin Regg Cohn writes:
If the verdict was a vindication on constitutionality, there was precious little validation of the premier’s own judgment: His unilateral move to redraw Toronto’s electoral boundaries “disrupted the campaigns that were already underway,” the judges noted. “The decision of the Legislature to change (the rules) during the campaign was unexpected and perhaps alarming.”
There is a lesson for every Ontarian in all of this:
The takeaway for Ontarians is that the premier boasts of his willingness to take away their rights on a moment’s notice, in midnight sittings, while they sleep. People who weren’t paying attention may now watch closely; those who gave his government the benefit of the doubt are now on notice; voters who assumed Ford’s cabinet would keep the premier in check should now check more closely.
Will our lawmakers learn lessons from this fiasco? The premier’s honeymoon has been eclipsed by his darkest hour. He escalated an ephemeral question of municipal seat size into an existential matter for his fledgling government, flouting the fundamental protections of the Charter on a whim.
Ford has displayed his true colours. Most Ontarians knew what they were. Sixty percent of them did not vote for him. Ignoring those colours, however, could be catastrophic.
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17 comments:
It seems to me that its not so much as what was done, although lord knows that was bad enough, but when and how it was done which as you say 'shows his true colours, Owen. There is that old adage about giving enough rope of which much has been provided already, it appears there will be miles of it around his feet (and elsewhere?) after 4 more years of this!
Suck it up, Ontario! It isn't as if you didn't already possess tons of knowledge as to how this thick headed bozo would act as a politician --- given that old phrase "been there, done that". Now you have to suffer through 4 years of chaos, much like those other gullabillies that voted for another bozo south of the 49th.
A thug with a constitution cudgel behind his back. That's all Ford is, Owen.
Ford could have waited to pass his bill, Rural. The first judgment made that abudantly clear. The second judgment indicated that he could have waited -- indeed, he didn't have to invoke the not-withstanding clause. This is a man who acts and reacts on impulse. As Ceasar said of Cassius, "Such men are dangerous."
We knew -- or should have known -- who Ford is, Lulumay. As Groucho Marx said, "Who you goona believe? Me or your own eyes?"
Putting the not-withstanding clause in the hands of a man like Ford, Lorne, is equivalent to giving him the ability to scorch the earth.
If Premiere Bindlestiff thought that the "appointed" judge had no right to advocate over an "elected" representative of two million citizens, how does he feel about the credentials of those who ruled in his favour? Does he now have a rekindled faith in the Judiciary?MJW
An excellent question, zoombats. So far as I know, he has had nothing but praise for the three judges who gave him what he wanted.
Worse than you think too apparently.
"The bill also cancels elections for the heads of council in the regional municipalities of Muskoka, Peel, York and Niagara, and replaces them with appointed roles."
http://peoplesvoice.ca/2018/09/12/corporate-interests-behind-fords-attack-on-local-democracy/
Thanks for the link, Deacon. It's excellent. The "Man of the People" is all about serving the interests of a select group of people. And they're not the "little people."
I'd like to publish your comment, Anon. But it needs to be initialled. If you re-submit it with initials, I'll post it.
As I've commented before, as some one from B.C., nothing about this surprises me. The "fine touch" of former premier of B.C., Gordon Campbell, el gordo, is all over this. it is my opinion, the Cons in Ontario we so anxious to regain power they were willing to do anything to achieve it. They went with something they thought would win. the people of Ontario were dump enough to go along. they may not have liked Wynne's sex education for schools, when they voted, but they didn't think Ford would cut Toronto City council in the manner he did. He (Gordon Campbell) however, did this to ensure everyone knew he was in charge and he will do as he pleases. this is the threat to all Cities and towns in Ontario, step into line, do not object or you too will "disappear". Ford (his handlers) have only gotten started. As Harper once said, we wouldn't recognize Canada when he was finished with it, well expect not to recognize your province when Ford and his fiends are finished with your province.
There is nothing surprising about any of this. Those who say they are surprised are idiots.
I agree wholeheatedly, e.a.f. This is no surprise. But many may be very surprised by what Ontario looks like and stands for by the time Dougie is done.
If they didn't get it then they aren't surprised now because they still don't get it. They never do.
In a year, when Trudeau goes into the federal election he'll most likely be sending Ford a thank you card. After people see what Ford has done to Ontario, they won't risk voting Conservative. it may actually help Notley in Alberta also. Albertans have no way of know if Jason Kenny will take aim at the Calgary city council.
Ignorance comes with a cost, John. And there are always hordes of people who are willing to pay for it.
For better or for worse, e.a.f. Ontario is where elections are won and lost. The old Harperites who now surround Ford view Ontario has their highway back to power. You can see the next election taking shape.
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