Toronto Liberal MPs slam Ford’s ‘heavy-handed’ use of notwithstanding clause
OTTAWA — All 25 Liberal MPs from Toronto say Ontario Premier Doug Ford is being heavy-handed and disrespectful in using the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to push ahead with plans to slash the size of the provincial capital’s city council.
In a statement made public Thursday, the MPs implored Ontario legislators from all parties to defeat a bill tabled by Ford’s Progressive Conservative government to cut the number of seats on council by almost half.
Ford is invoking the rarely used notwithstanding clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to override a court decision that found the move to be unconstitutional.
In the statement, the Liberal MPs — including several cabinet ministers — said members of the Ontario legislature from Toronto have a responsibility to defend the city, its democratic institutions, and the rights of citizens to a free and fair municipal election this fall.