MPP urged to take a stand against new omnibus bill

Dear MPP Dave Smith: I read about the new omnibus bill submitted by Premier Doug Ford’s government, of which you are part. And as such, you supposedly represent me as a constituent.

However, that now seems questionable. Trying to add in a bill to give degree-granting rights to Canadian Christian College (which, given its reputation as a homophobic and Islamophobic institution, should definitely not be given this right), is an underhanded and tacky and illegitimate move. There is a process for institutions to receive such rights. It is not done via special legislation.

In addition, another piece of the omnibus is also egregious: Legislating away the right of citizens to use ranked balloting for local elections. Mr. Ford says “we have done it this way (the current way of first past the post) since 1867” and that there is no need to confuse people. How condescending! A number of municipalities have decided to use ranked balloting, as is their right. As the news reports note, Mr. Ford himself won his leadership via ranked balloting!

These are two very bad decisions on the part of the current provincial government. As my representative at Queen’s Park, I request that you take a stand against these two components of this bill and make a clear statement of disagreement with their being tabled. I look forward to hearing that you have done the right thing.

Craig Peterson, Engleburn Ave.