W. K. Lis
Superstar
Doug Ford doesn't want to be Mayor, Doug Ford wants to be Dictator.
From the Toronto Sun, at this link:
From the Toronto Sun, at this link:
Mayor should have veto powers: Ford
Doug Ford says Toronto needs a strong mayor system. The mayoral candidate isn’t toning down his support for beefing up the mayor’s powers despite the fact he’s locked in an election battle with John Tory and Olivia Chow. Both his opponents oppose the idea of strengthening the mayor’s powers.
“At minimum, budgetary veto powers,†Ford said Monday during a community tour in the Jane St.-Finch Ave. area.
Mayor Rob Ford’s brother said if he had it his way, Toronto would explore adopting a strong mayor system.
“I would like to look at the strong-mayor system in the U.S., New York, Chicago, L.A. — see how that works,†he said.
“I think it just stops all the disagreements. You know, you need one person held accountable, one person,†he added. “At the end of the day, I learned one thing about the mayoral election, the mayor gets blamed for everything — he should be responsible for everything. If not, don’t blame him for everything.â€
He noted the province will review the City of Toronto Act in the next few years and argued that would be the time to ask for the changes.
“The province works this way in a majority government,†Ford said. “It’s ultimate power with the province and the feds when they have a majority government. At least you have to give the same powers to whoever the mayor may be, him or her, of the day. If you don’t like them, you fire them in four years.â€
The Etobicoke North (Ward 2) councillor has long advocated for a strong mayor system. In June 2012, he insisted a more empowered mayor was key to bringing order to City Hall.
Tory campaign spokesman Amanda Galbraith said the frontrunner is happy to work within the current rules.
“But the real story here is that Doug Ford is in favour of a strong-mayor system because he knows he cannot work with council to get things done,†Galbraith said. “Toronto cannot afford four more years of inaction. We need someone who can go to City Hall, work with councillors and both levels of government to get things done on transit and traffic congestion.â€
Chow campaign spokesman Jamey Heath said “it’s positive to have the mayor working with council.
“Only Olivia has shown she can work with councillors to get things done,†Heath said on Monday.
“We don’t need a strong mayor system o overrule council. We need a strong mayor like Olivia to work with council.â€