Legislated bullying, thanks to Doggie Ford.
Doggie Ford has done it again…extended the power of bullying. Now more mayors in the province have the power to increase the number of Ford supporters. Machiavelli could take lessons from the master of Machiavellian maneuvering, Doggie Ford. He runs campaigns quietly, never making clear cut promises. He avoids making policy declarations unnecessarily. He mutes cabinet members to control the agenda. Other than Bethlenfalvy (Finance) and Jones, (Health), other cabinet ministers have been gagged. Know any of these: Calandra, Fedeli, Lumsden, Mulroney…worse, ever hear of Michael FORD?
Ethics, principles and values at Queen’s Park, history, thanks to Doggie Ford. What he wants, he does, he gets. Bully tactics work! Let’s extend them.
Strong mayors, supermen?
Thanks to Premier Wunderbar, the province now has 26 more potential bullies and included among them, Pickering’s Mayor Ashe? What does “strong mayor” mean?
Strong mayors have the power to ram through legislation with just 1/3 support. Is this not destruction of the democratic process? More than half of council was required for municipal policy making. Now, strong mayors can push their agenda through council with just thirty percent.
The powers of strong mayors
Strong mayors have the power to:
- Appoint their choice of chief administrative officer;
- Hire their municipal department heads and establish or re-organize the departments;
- Create committees of council, assign their functions and appoint committee chairs and vice-chairs;
- Propose the municipal budget, (subject to council amendments);
- Veto bylaws they think might potentially interfere with Ford’s priorities;
- Bring forward matters for council consideration that can advance Ford’s priorities.
Consider those powers carefully, one by one. Councillors are being relegated to lesser positions when only a third of them are needed for any policy the strong mayor wants. These mayors control committees and crucial appointments. Could this be used to coerce uncooperative councillors? Vote my way or else you may never see political daylight again!
When criticized for eroding democracy in the province, government spokesperson, Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, defended the government, “empowering municipal leaders to give them the tools to get the job done…” and making “sure … that we set our communities up for success.”
Citizen’s recourse?
The voters of Ontario have no immediate recourse whatsoever with these political bullying tactics. The next provincial election is in 2026, a long time to remember the various political abuses being launched by Doggie. Now he extends this power of bullying to a large number of mayors in the province, grooming more sycophants, more ‘indentured’ supporters.
Some mayors have denounced the new rule
Some mayors have expressed concern with the new categorization questioning its meaning and its potential impact on municipal policy making. We wonder where Mayor Ashe stands?
Mayor Ashe and 3 councillors have the power to pass their preferred or selective policies. There’s an odour of questionable politics emanating from Pickering city hall. “Ashe and a third” equals policy makers. How long will it take for other councillors to get the point. Policy making becomes the Ashe-way or no way, very soon.
We would like to hear from you in regard to your new super status, Mr. Mayor!
