هنا لندن-Toronto electing new mayor and reduced city council

Toronto electing new mayor and reduced city council

2018-10-23 04:22:57

أخبار 0

267

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is electing a new and smaller city council today, after a controversial campaign.

The trouble started when the new premier of the province of Ontario, Doug Ford, elected on June 7, 2018, decided to shrink the council from 47 seats to 25, with wards redrawn to accommodate the change.

Toronto Mayor John Tory accompanies his mother Elizabeth Tory to vote at an advanced polling election station in Toronto on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Voters across Ontario are casting ballots today to elect their next municipal governments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

There was a huge outcry against the move as several candidates had already embarked on their campaigns. and citizens were not consulted.

The province’s new government, however, went ahead the move and in a vote of 71 to 39, passed The Better Local Government Act.

There are reports of some confusion today as some names were not on voter lists following the revisions.

Mayoral candidate Jennifer Keesmaat hugs her daughter Alexandra after voting in the municipal election in Toronto on Monday, October 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Meanwhile, Mayor John Tory, a popular leader, is being challenged by former Chief City Planner, Jennifer Keesmat.

Doug Ford, brother of the late and infamous former mayor, Rob Ford, was alleged to be settling scores with former colleagues with the council cut.

For his part, Ford said trimming the council seats would streamline the decision-making process while savomg Toronto taxpayers $25 million in councillor and staff salaries over the next four years.

Doug Ford’s father, Doug Ford Senior, a former provincial member of parliament, lost his seat in a similar move when his Conservative party, led by Mike Harris, moved to reduce the seats in the legislature from 130 to 103.