Resources:
We
need more democracy locally -- not less
Op/ed by Josh Matlow, Guy Giorno & Dave Meslin
Longer term for council
splits opinion Toronto
Star
Four
year terms for council slammed Toronto
Sun
Councillors don't need longer terms
by Michael Walker
A
setback for local democracy.
by Royson James
Longer
terms for civic office? Let's vote on that
Globe
and Mail
We
didn't vote for one more year
Toronto Sun Editorial
Let
Voters Decide
Toronto Star
Embarrassing,
unhealthy, unseemly
by Royson James
Notice
of Motion (Toronto District School Board)
by Josh Matlow
Ontario
adopts four-year terms Candian
Press
On
May 10th, The
provincial government passed Bill 81, a Budget Bill that contained a buried
clause that reduces the frequency of muncipal elections in Ontario.
Bill 81 had no public consulations and no debate. We believe strongly
that
voters should have a say in how and when we elect our representatives.
It
is unnaccaptable to reduce elections in Ontario in such a secretive way.
The “democratic deficit” is of increasing concern in all parts
of the country and at all levels of government. Only in Ontario, however,
are politicians responding to the deficit with a plan for less democracy,
not more.
Fewer, less frequent local elections will serve only the interests of
politicians seeking to delay their accountability to the voters. Our democracy
will be the weaker for it.
Join us as we demand full public consultation.
 "Ramming through bills without proper debate weakens our system of democracy..." Dalton McGuinty, May 12, 2003 |
When Dalton McGuinty was leader of the Opposition, he did a good job of criticising Premier Mike Harris for passing omnibus legislation with no public hearings. Now, as Premier, he seems to be adopting the same approach he was criticising. Premier, we invite you to listen to your own words: "Public hearings; those two words go together nicely if you believe in true democracy, if you recognize that public input is one of the tools that make for good legislation and if you really believe in tools, instead of the same old-fashioned, Tory sledgehammer approach to legislation in Ontario." Dalton McGuinty, December 6, 1999 click here for more |
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John
Sewell, former Mayor of Toronto "I believe if you surveyed residents in Toronto - or in other municipalities - you would find that people generally do not support a four year term. The province should show municipalities some respect. The heavy hand of unexpected legislation is not the way to do that." click here for more |
|
David
Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto
"The
proposal for a 4 year term together with new "reforms"
in the new City of Toronto Act will |
 |
 |
Josh
Matlow, TDSB Trustee
for St. Paul's "As local politicians, we are granted a three-year contract by our constituents to represent them and fight for their interests. Queen's Park now intends to change the terms of this contract without public consultation, further degrading public confidence in our political system. Let us hope the Province will reconsider this misguided course." |