Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’s disappointed that Ottawa’s leading mayoral candidates are promising not to use “strong mayor” powers the province instituted last month.
The Morning Rush with Bill CarrollCatherine McKenney, Mark Sutcliffe and Bob Chiarelli all said at the CTV Ottawa mayoral debate last week that they would not use the new powers.
“These new powers are undemocratic, they’re Doug Ford’s way of getting what he wants through the city of Ottawa. I will not use those powers,” McKenney said. “I have no intention of using those powers either,” Sutcliffe said. “I don’t think anybody in Ottawa was asking for them. I intend to build consensus and respect the democratically elected members of council.”
The new law gives the mayors of Ottawa and Toronto the power to hire and fire department heads, single-handedly propose the municipal budget, and veto certain bylaws approved by council if they are “related to matters of provincial authority.”The Ontario legislature passed the bill last month. The Ford government touted it as a tool to help mayors get more homes built faster.
The provincial NDP and Liberals said the new law amounts to Ford interfering in municipal politics ahead of the elections. Outgoing Ottawa mayor Jim Watson also opposes the new powers.
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