Toronto votes to challenge Ford government’s council-cutting plans in court
Toronto city council voted Monday to mount a legal challenge against Ontario’s decision to slash the size of the city’s council.
The legislation — known as Bill 5 — was passed last week and aligns Toronto’s ward map with federal ridings, cutting the number of city councillors from 47 to 25 ahead of a fall municipal election.
Premier Doug Ford has said the move will help council make decisions and deliver services “more efficiently and effectively” and save taxpayers $25 million over four years.
Toronto council voted 27-15 to challenge the Progressive Conservative government’s legislation, which also cancels planned elections for the head of council position in the regional municipalities of Muskoka, Peel, York and Niagara. The head of council in each region will instead be appointed.