Mayoral Powers
The Mayor has spoken ad nauseum about the need for greater transparency in City government and the desirability of public consultation before major policy and strategy decisions are made.
Now he tells us that he has been meeting in private with the Premier of Ontario to lobby for increased powers. By that he means he wants the Province take power from the elected members of Council and hand it to him.
He wants to hold the policy and strategy meetings that will set the course of government for our City in secret. He wants to have unilateral control of the City staff by having the right to hire and fire key managers – control that effectively politicizes the City’s civil service.
And he wants these things without holding an open and public debate on whether his quest for power is in the public interest, and without asking Council if they are willing to cede these powers.
This is a shameful and deceitful way to operate. It is not in the best interests of the City, the people or its government to thumb your nose at the will of the people and take power that fundamentally alters the way the City function.
Power for which there are no checks and balances. Power which is open wide to abuse.
The Mayor has often cited his “mandate” to govern Toronto based on his last election victory. If there is such a mandate, it comes from the people. So let us look at what the people say.
The City of Toronto Act Public Consultation report, “called Back to a Strong Toronto, Strong Ontario “ submitted by the Mayor to the Policy & Finance Committee in July, 2005, reports:
There is a “Great divide on the issue of a strong mayor. Those promoting the idea felt it would cut red tape, those against felt it would concentrate too much power with one individual. Both groups felt that checks and balances needed to be added to the system, particularly if the mayor was given greater authority.”
This is hardly a ringing endorsement for stripping Council of its authority and concentrating power in the Mayor’s hands. And where are the added checks and balances to go along with greater concentration of power?
The report also says:
The “Process of fiscal planning and decision making needs to be transparent for the public to see and be a part of it", the "people of Toronto should know clearly who is responsible for what" and how they can ensure accountability.
How do secret planning and policy meetings and less scrutiny by Council and the public meet this objective?
The report also notes that the people want to continue to be engaged in changes to the City of Toronto Act and be given “more information and more opportunities for input.”
How do the Mayor’s private meetings with the Premier on acquiring greater personal power fit in here?
The people say:
The “city must "keep decision-making close to the people" by encouraging community based consultation by councillors.
How can Councillors fulfill this mandate when they are cut out of the loop by a coterie of power surrounding the Mayor’s office?
The report notes that there is:
Overwhelming support for the public to be "consulted at each stage of the report and then the subsequent Act". Many people wanted future drafts to be the subject of future consultations and public input.
When is the Mayor planning to ask the people whether or not he should have the powers he receives by negotiating in secret with the Premier?
It appears clear to me that what the people want is an opportunity to participate directly and through their Councillors when their city governance structure is being so radically changed. They have given no one a mandate for a unilateral backdoor consolidation off power!
The Motion I have brought forward has been written to reflect the wishes of the people. It is also in keeping with the Mayor’s often stated desire for more public consultation and more transparency in the governance of the City.
If the people want the Mayor to have additional power, more than the increased powers given him in the last review of the City of Toronto Act, they should have an opportunity to make their intentions clear. If they are willing to sacrifice transparent and open government in favour of closed door policy meetings, a politicized civil service and the creation of a de facto ruling elite, then let them decide.
But don’t tell them you are for open, accountable and transparent government when your actions speak a different language than your words.
This is a shameful power play that cannot go unchallenged in the interests of the public and the future of our City.