LTE: Strong Mayor Powers – an Absurdity in and of the Municipal Act
Dear Editor
For hundreds of years, in Ontario, the people have celebrated democracy. In approx., 2004, a document was created, for the province, on how to govern Ontario and the municipalities. Having read that document never in my wildest nightmares did I think the provincial government would actually pay heed to the recommendations, to remove democracy and/or to limit it. It seems, now, with sections 284.2 to 284.17, of the Municipal Act, the province has moved forward with that project, which includes incorporating the “Russian Federation.”[1]
From the very first Municipal Act, etc., which supported our democratic system of governance, it’s very disturbing that our provincial government has decided that democracy should be removed, due to recommendations of a few academics. From the 2004 report, “”Investing in Human Capital Creating a Human Capital Society Panel on the role of government”:
“Direct democracy permits individual citizens to make choices about specific policy issues. However, direct democracy raises serious concerns about the ability of referenda to address complex policy issues, the role of money in the voting process, the loss of democratic debate and the hindering of rational policy making. Given the experience with direct democracy in other jurisdictions (e.g., California), we believe that its role should be very limited and carefully structured. It should not be used for general policy decisions manageable by representative democracy, such as the desirable level of taxes.”
We all understand it takes governments time to implement things, but never should any citizen, of Ontario, have to be concerned that our provincial government would actually enact such a violation of our constitution, or create such an absurdity of the Municipal Act.
The Municipal Act sets out the rules on Council’s authority and obligations. This is the entire Council duly elected by the residents, of the municipality. Not only has amalgamation decidedly remove democracy, increased taxes, denied people their rights, but now, with the Strong Mayor Powers, the entire Act contradicts itself.
Council Members are to represent the various voices in the municipality. Without these voices, at the table, there is no democracy, ergo, our municipalities are nothing less that minor communist governments, with the Mayor(s) acting the part of mini-Putin. This goes against every constitutional document and every ethical/moral principle known, in this Nation, and this province. These contradictions, placed in the Municipal Act, need to be repealed for the sake of the entire population of this province. Nothing spells disaster like decidedly violating the rights of the people, by attempting to grant socialist/fascist powers. We must all remember that was why there was WWI and WWII, etc.
Elizabeth Marshall
Author
Director of Research – Ontario Landowners Association
Past Chair – Canadian Justice Review Board
Legal/Legislative/General Researcher –
MPs, MPPs, Senators, Municipal Officials, Lawyers, etc.
I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.
[1] Enid Slack was correct in her report from 2004, “MODELS OF GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL”:“…The project is being carried out by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), working in conjunction with experts in academia, government and the non-governmental sector in both Canada and the Russian Federation.”[1]
