But if we\u0027re going to do this, let\u0027s go all in: If mayors are going to be able to overrule councils, citizens should also have the means to recall mayors who…
Details of these extraordinary powers are scant, but it seems a mayor’s veto can be overturned with a two-thirds majority council vote. We don’t really know what decisions the mayor can veto.
The most ridiculous argument in favour of the extended powers came from Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark’s office. Asked about the special powers, senior aide Chris Poulos responded: “We know that, today in Ontario, too many families are frozen out of the housing market. That’s why we have a plan to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years and continue to explore ways to help municipalities get homes built faster.
What these new powers would likely do is plunge us into a new era of “dictator” mayors. If mayors can willy-nilly overrule councils, why would we need the latter? It would be the end of local democracy as we know it. Mayor Jim Watson had, at least, 13 councillors under control, and he used this majority to isolate and disenfranchise downtown colleagues.
But since we are copying the Americans, let’s go all in. If mayors are to get the power to overrule councils, citizens should also have the power to recall mayors who stray into abuse of power. Recall would also allow councillors who refuse to resign after proven abusive behaviour, to be voted out. Power would then truly reside in the people, where it belongs.Share this Story:
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