Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto

[DSCToronto]

I was annoyed that she caved on low rise and six-plexes outside of downtown.

She did NOT cave in, she upheld her statement about democracy =, refused to use her Strong Mayor" powers and brought the policy into much (but unfortunately not all) of the City.

 

[Admiral Beez]

She pledged in the last election not to use this power, which she deemed undemocratic.

She did NOT cave in, she upheld her statement about democracy =, refused to use her Strong Mayor”

Cop out. You’re the mayor, are given responsibilities and powers under the province’s version (as opposed to your personal feelings) of democratic governance. When council is blocking important housing initiatives (during a housing crisis) that both the provincial and the federal governments are pushing, it’s the time to act decisively, and not seek the least path of resistance in the pursuit of a partial win - even if that costs you the next mayoral election. Chow can hardly ask either Queen’s Park or Ottawa for housing aid in future without seeming the hypocrite.

 

[rbt]

Cop out. You’re the mayor, are given responsibilities and powers under the province’s version (as opposed to your personal feelings) of democratic governance. When council is blocking important housing initiatives (during a housing crisis) that both the provincial and the federal governments are pushing, it’s the time to act decisively, and not seek the least path of resistance in the pursuit of a partial win - even if that costs you the next mayoral election. Chow can hardly ask either Queen’s Park or Ottawa for housing aid in future without seeming the hypocrite.

Agreed. Sometimes leadership needs to acknowledge when they made a mistake and promising not to use strong mayor powers when they benefit the city as a whole was a mistake. It's not undemocratic to use them, but it is democracy at a different scale; they mayor is still elected and accountable to the voter.

That said, I'd switch Toronto to a Swiss system of quarterly referendums if I could. I like the idea of the mayor being an elected city manager so they're strictly execution focused, not decision making focused. While the public sometimes makes poor choices it removes the harder left/right swings in policy and navigates closer to centre; this is good for long-term planning for government, individuals, and business.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Agreed. Sometimes leadership needs to acknowledge when they made a mistake and promising not to use strong mayor powers when they benefit the city as a whole was a mistake.

Of course then we must also accept it when a mayor uses their new strong powers to do the opposite of what is beneficial to issues like the housing crisis.

Markham’s Scarpitti uses strong mayor powers to veto fourplexes citywide

The decision overrides a council vote and could cost the municipality federal housing money.

www.thestar.com

 

[rbt]

Of course then we must also accept it when a mayor uses their new strong powers to do the opposite of what is beneficial to issues like the housing crisis.

I very much doubt is Chow's precedence of rejecting the power will be honoured by future mayors.

Either the power shouldn't exist, or it should be used to achieve the goals of the electorate and they will be judged in future elections.

 

[DSCToronto]

I very much doubt is Chow's precedence of rejecting the power will be honoured by future mayors.

Either the power shouldn't exist, or it should be used to achieve the goals of the electorate and they will be judged in future elections.

I think it should not exist but if you think it should exist so that Mayors can 'achieve the goals of the electorate' I suspect that most suburban voters were supportive of Olivia's compromise to allow 6-plexes downtown but not in THEIR backyards.

 

[picard102]

Of course then we must also accept it when a mayor uses their new strong powers to do the opposite of what is beneficial to issues like the housing crisis.

Markham’s Scarpitti uses strong mayor powers to veto fourplexes citywide

The decision overrides a council vote and could cost the municipality federal housing money.

www.thestar.com

Interesting seeing as the powers are scoped to areas the province want to see advanced, and not stymied.

 

[DSCToronto]

Interesting seeing as the powers are scoped to areas the province want to see advanced, and not stymied.

That's the danger of giving anyone 'special powers' - YOU would, of course, use them 'properly', others might not!!

 

[picard102]

That's the danger of giving anyone 'special powers' - YOU would, of course, use them 'properly', others might not!!

Unless the province has changed it's priorities on housing, this veto does not appear to be valid.
Whether or not YOU would use it 'properly' or not.

 

[zang]

That's the danger of giving anyone 'special powers' - YOU would, of course, use them 'properly', others might not!!

See; “Notwithstanding Clause”