Ford should leave Peterborough’s city council alone

Premier Doug Ford likes smaller government and the “strong mayor” system for city councils. He has said no change will be imposed on cities other than Toronto in the “near future,” which leaves the door open to reform over the next four years.

So, it would not be all that surprising if Peterborough and other cities found themselves under the same order that cut Toronto city council in half.

Setting aside the future outcome of Toronto’s legal appeal, and the wildly abrupt way Ford stepped into Toronto politics, the confrontation raises valid questions around the way cities are governed.

How many councillors are too many, too few, or just right?

Is a system where the mayor can make big decisions without council approval more effective?

Peterborough operates on a ward system with 10 elected councillors, two per ward, and a mayor. That works out to an average of one councillor for every

8,500 residents, although actual numbers vary because all wards are not the same size.

Cut council in half, as some have suggested over the years, and each councillor would represent 17,000 residents. By contrast, the Ford-mandated changes have Toronto councillors representing on average 109,000 residents. Even when councillors are fulltime and have staff that’s a big gap in representation.

Other Canadian cities cover the middle range of those numbers. The bigger the centre the less “representative” councils are. Calgary has one councillor per 86,000 residents, Winnipeg one per 47,000, Saskatoon and Halifax one per 25,000.

Which is best to be able to listen to and act on people’s concerns, while also keeping council meetings efficient and productive? There is likely no right answer. Competent, well-organized councillors will do a good job, others not so much.

Interestingly, the three Canadian cities that made The Economist’s recent top 10 international list of best places to live are Calgary (third on the list, one councillor per 86,000 residents), Vancouver (sixth, 64,000) and Toronto (seventh, 58,000 under pre-Ford system).

While there are more factors to liveability than good city council performance the two certainly are connected, and those are three of the four highest councillor-to-population ratios in the country.

But that doesn’t mean Peterborough would be fine with just five councillors.

Diversity of views is also important. And the general rule of thumb is that cities have at least 10 councillors plus a mayor. Looking at The Economist leading lights, Calgary has 14 councillors and Vancouver 10. Most other major Canadian cities range from 10 to 23. Montreal (46) and Toronto are the outliers.

Ford’s Toronto edict had both opponents and supporters. A number of thoughtful opponents objected to the way it was handled while agreeing 48 councillors is too many. In Peterborough, 10 feels right. The Premier should keep his hands off.

As for a “strong mayor” system, Ford sang its praises in a book about his years on Toronto council. It is the norm in most large U.S. cities, where mayors can hire and fire all staff and personally set budgets that councillors then approve or reject.

Canada’s “weak” mayor system requires more consultation and crafting of consensus. Each has, no pun intended, strengths and weaknesses.

Interesting, though, that The Economist’s most liveable mainland U.S. city is Pittsburgh at No. 32.

Again, best to leave thing as they are, Premier Ford.

How many councillors are too many, too few, or just right?