Ford’s vindictive actions revive talk of Toronto independence

A smaller city council may have merit, but the premier’s attitude is disturbing

It’s shocking to think that in the 21st century, Canadian cities remain at the mercy of a premier like Donald, er, Doug Ford bent on showing an upstart municipality like Toronto who’s boss.

At a time when the country’s economic success depends more than ever on the social, cultural, economic and technological synergies of urban Canada, the failure to empower our cities is dumb and self-defeating.

Not even Ford’s more Torontofriendly predecessor, Kathleen Wynne, was above sticking it to the city when it suited her. In 2017, she turned down Mayor John Tory’s plan to toll the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. Wynne was worried about upsetting voters in the 905.

It’s not much better at the federal level. Mired in red tape, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s much touted $125-billion infrastructure renewal program has fallen far behind schedule, leaving many Canadian cities in the lurch.

Many believe the root cause of the problem is the constitution his father, Pierre Trudeau, brought into being in 1982. As Toronto’s city solicitor noted in 2000, “The Canadian Constitution gives the provinces exclusive control over cities and other municipalities ... As a creature of a province, a city has no inherent powers — only the powers given by the province.”

Certainly, Ford has taken full advantage of the city’s impotence. It wasn’t enough to cut council in half without a nanosecond of consultation, he also announced his decision in the middle of a municipal election. Not that he cares, but such contempt runs contrary to provincial laws. The 2006 City of Toronto Act (COTA) specifically states that relations between city and province will be conducted with “mutual respect, consultation and co-operation.”

Clearly no one told Doug Ford. Regardless, since then premier Dalton McGuinty and mayor David Miller presided over the creation of COTA, the city has lost interest in pushing for independence. Indeed, when Doug’s brother, Rob, became mayor in 2010, his first act was to cancel the vehicle registration tax, implemented by Miller under new powers granted by COTA.

Ford’s successor, John Tory, has studiously avoided the issue of enhanced civic powers. Despite his complaints about having to go to Queen’s Park like a boy in short pants, he has never hesitated to approach the federal and provincial governments for money for everything from transit and infrastructure to social housing and immigrant services.

Though COTA was initially seen as a breakthrough in civic empowerment, it gave Toronto little of substance. That became clear when Wynne nixed Tory’s road tolls. Though the city had the right to impose tolls, it was subject to provincial permission.

COTA also revealed Toronto’s reluctance to use the limited powers it did gain. There were exceptions, but essentially the city was anxious to avoid the responsibilities that come with them. It’s easier to blame Queen’s Park rather than yourself.

But the sheer vindictiveness of Doug Ford’s recent moves makes it difficult for the city to turn the other cheek. Though there are arguments for and against reducing the size of council, his arbitrary and abrupt intervention into the affairs of Toronto amounts to a coup.

Though chatter about a Toronto Charter and enhanced city independence has fallen silent, it may be time to restart the conversation. Not only will Ford’s vengefulness hurt the city, the GTA and Canada, internationally it will make Ontario look like a banana province run by a local strong man with a big axe to grind. The same is true of the Conservative’s cancellation of several hundred energy contracts.

Ford says his attack was justified because Toronto city council is dysfunctional. He’s right. But that’s the nature of democracy. It’s messy, expensive and time-consuming; dictatorships are much more efficient. He points to transit as an example of council indecision. Again, he’s right. But he conveniently forgets the province’s role in the matter, including, notably, the contribution of a predecessor, Mike Harris, who cancelled the Eglinton subway in 1995 and spent $50 million filling in the hole.

The problem is that no one’s sure who’s in control; city or province? The premier’s ill-conceived and illtimed intervention will worsen the situation. His move has sparked chaos but we now know who’s in charge. So all hail Mayor Doug Ford, unelected, unwanted and at the helm of a ship quickly taking on water.