A grassroots effort is underway in Toronto, calling for a citizens’ board to boost the city’s independence from provincial control.
More than 85 letter writers, including notable figures like Margaret Atwood, are urging city council to create this board soon. Many residents feel frustrated with what they see as the province meddling in local matters, according to Doug Earl from Charter City Toronto.
He mentioned that after the province passed a bill last November that removed three major bike lanes in the city, they saw a spike in people reaching out for support. “When the province starts to interfere in something as basic as how we organize our streets, that’s really a bridge too far for a lot of Torontonians,” he said.
Earl also pointed out that Premier Doug Ford’s government cut the size of Toronto’s city council during the 2018 municipal election, which many viewed as another instance of provincial interference.
The proposed citizens’ advisory board would serve as a platform for residents to research, discuss, and suggest ways to transform Toronto into a city with real authority, rather than just a “creature of the province.”
On Tuesday, the city council’s executive committee will vote on a motion to create the board, introduced by councillors Josh Matlow and Jamaal Myers. Matlow is advocating for the exploration of a constitutionally protected city charter for Toronto.
He noted that Canadian cities only have the powers granted by their provinces, and he feels that Ford “meddles in our city all the time.” In contrast, most mid-sized to large cities in the U.S. have their own city charters.
“I’m under no illusions that Doug Ford is gonna come around and be a big supporter of Toronto’s autonomy,” Matlow said. “But if we begin the work now, we can start doing the real work that needs to be done to empower Toronto.”
CBC Toronto has reached out to Mayor Olivia Chow’s office and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for their comments on this initiative.
