Toronto City Council will formally ask the Ford government to hand it greater control and autonomy over a number of matters as the province considers handing the mayor more executive authority.
In a motion passed Thursday, council asked that the province consult with the city on governance ahead of any changes and grant it additional powers in a number of areas including traffic safety measures, planning and housing, cannabis and liquor licences, and revenue-raising measures and budgeting.
Toronto currently has a weak mayor system, which means that the mayor is the highest elected official, but still represents just one vote on council when it comes to most decision making. For example when Mayor John Tory wanted to toll the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway in order to raise much-needed revenues several years ago, then-premier Kathleen Wynne denied the request as the province still holds authority over Toronto’s highways.
In a statement, the Toronto Region Board of Trade said that it “welcomes government action” to provide Toronto with stronger mayor powers.
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