DSCToronto
Superstar
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.
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- Thread starter DSCToronto
- Start date
Admiral Beez
Superstar
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.
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rbt
Senior Member
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.
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Admiral Beez
Superstar
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
Senior Member
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
Superstar
picard102
Senior Member
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.
Interesting seeing as the powers are scoped to areas the province want to see advanced, and not stymied.
DSCToronto
Superstar
That's the danger of giving anyone 'special powers' - YOU would, of course, use them 'properly', others might not!!
picard102
Senior Member
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
Senior Member
See; “Notwithstanding Clause”