Ford override to slash council ‘disappointing’: federal minister

The federal Liberals say they are disappointed the Ontario government will resort to the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to forge ahead with plans to cut the size of Toronto city council.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc warns that Ontarians “will ultimately judge the actions of their provincial government.”

The notwithstanding clause gives provincial legislatures or Parliament the ability to usher in legislation that effectively overrides provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but only for a five-year period.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford took the rarely used step Monday after a judge said it was unconstitutional to slash the number of city council seats in the middle of a municipal election without consultation.

Toronto Mayor John Tory called the move a “gross overreach” of the province’s powers and said in a tweet Monday night he had met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in the provincial capital for a women’s summit, to discuss his concerns.

In a statement, Leblanc said the notwithstanding clause is an extraordinary part of the Constitution that should be used only in the most exceptional of cases, after serious and sober consideration.

However, it was not immediately clear what the federal government would — or even could — do other than express disapproval of Ford’s decision.