09-10-2018, 04:45 PM
(09-10-2018, 04:11 PM)panamaniac Wrote:(09-10-2018, 04:01 PM)SammyOES Wrote: Looks like their plan is to use the notwithstanding clause. I'd hope that everybody could agree this is a ridiculous idea and a dangerous precedent. But these days...
It is an appalling idea, but I have no doubt that loyal members of Ford Nation will support it. Whether anyone in the PC caucus has the cojones to stand up against it remains to be seen (has the Premier already run it by caucus? I shouldn't think there was time). I really wonder what the City of Toronto is supposed to do now pending further court action, recall of Parliament, and invocation of the notwithstanding clause? Do they prepare for an election of 47 councillors? 25 councillors? Both? Neither?
In my view, the City Clerk should have proceeded with 47 councillors in the first place, pending judicial review. I understand that they have already done a lot of work towards running a 25-ward election; and at this point are the 47-ward nominations even valid? There are really at least two separate issues going on: changing the next election after 2018 (currently scheduled for 2022, but the Province could change that, making it earlier or later), and changing the 2018 election.
A reasonable discussion can be had about what should happen in the next election. I happen to disagree with the idea that reducing per capita representation in Toronto way below what (almost?) any other city in the province has is not a good idea, but as I say a reasonable discussion can be had. There is however no reasonable discussion to be had as to whether an election that is already in progress should be changed: that is clearly stupid, even if the change itself were clearly an improvement.