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the tories, who’ve taken greatsatisfaction in sticking it to the city of Toronto ever since they came to power in 95, are about to lower the boom once again. Word is that they plan to bring in legislation this fall to halve the size of Toronto city council, bringing it to a measly 22 members.
Alexandra Gillespie, communications adviser to municipal affairs minister Chris Hodgson, says nothing official has crossed her desk. But she doesn’t deny that a plan may be in the works. “That may very well be the case,” she says.
These rumblings have already reached the ears of deputy mayor Case Ootes, who meets with Hodgson this week. Ootes says the Tory plan is on the agenda.
He says he’ll tell Hodgson he doesn’t like the idea. It would give more power to the bureaucracy at City Hall that Ootes says is already too powerful.
“Certainly, given the scope of responsibilities that city council has, you are in effect saying, “Let’s give more power to the bureaucracy and let’s have less accountability.'”
According to one Pink Palace insider, the Tories are not at all worried that their plan may end up shifting the balance of power on council to the left. Since municipal elections are about who has the most money, the Tories, this source says, figure they can outspend their opponents to help elect any right-winger they really need to.
