Canada: Judge halts Ontario Premier Doug Ford's decision to cut Toronto council seats
Toronto, Sept 10 (IBNS): Ontario Premier Doug Ford's decision to reduce the Toronto council seats has been suspended by a judge, media reports said.
Justice Edward P. Belobaba ruled on Monday that the reduction of the council seats by the Better Local Government Act violated the rights of Torontonians.
He said the reduction has taken away the freedom of expression of the Torontonians.
Toronto City Council had earlier voted to challenge Ontario Premier Doug Ford's decision to cut number of seats from earlier 47 to 25.
Toronto Council voted 27-15 to challenge the decision taken by the Progressive Conservative (PC)-led provincial government.
The bill was introduced by Ontario premier Doug Ford in July.
The premier even compared Ontario to Los Angeles, a city with a population of four million, which has only 15 city councillors.
Ford said the legislation, if passed, will save around $25 million of tax payers' money.
"I think Toronto taxpayers will be happy to trade a bunch of politicians at city hall for millions of dollars that can be reinvested in the city’s pressing priorities" Ford added.
The previous government, which was led by the Liberals, had increased the number of council seats from 44 to 47 in 2016.
Ford said his Progressive Conservative (PC) government is also planning to halt the previous government's decision to form elected regional chairs in Peel, York, Niagara and Muskoka regions.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
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