Ford needs his grocery bags

Mayor tells listeners they should call city to get ban rescinded

Mayor Rob Ford used his Sunday radio talk show to drum up support for rescinding the Jan.1ban on plastic shopping bags.

Council voted 24-20 in June to ban the bags but, as first reported in the Star, legal experts say the deci- sion was made with no notice or consultation with industry groups and the public.

The mayor wants councillors to reopen the issue at its meeting Tuesday and Wednesday. But it’s not automatic: 30 of the 45 council members must vote in favour of reopening.

Ford told his listeners on Newstalk 1010 that city legal advisers say the ban is vulnerable to being challenged in court.

He said that and that one industry group has already served notice of possible legal action. In a guest appearance on the show, Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong said the ban could be struck down by the courts. Minnan-Wong, a lawyer, said the issue needs to be sent back for public consultation, and then returned to council to be voted on anew. Ford made it clear he opposes the ban and urged citizens who agree with him to express their concerns with a call to city hall. “If you want plastic bags to be around after Jan. 1, then you want this (ban) to be rescinded,” he said. “Call your councillors and let them know how you feel.” People can reach their councillor by calling 311 or the mayor’s office, Ford said. Callers to the mayor’s office will be told their councillor’s name, phone number and how their councillor voted in June, he said. Councillor Peter Milczyn, who supported the ban, says in a motion for the council meeting that “it would be prudent” for council to reopen the debate.