Toronto election proceeding with 25 wards after court sides with province
TORONTO — Ontario’s top court sided with the provincial government Wednesday in a legal battle over the size of Toronto’s council, firmly establishing a reduced 25-ward electoral map for the city’s looming municipal vote.
In suspending what it called a “dubious” lower court ruling that found the province’s move to cut council unconstitutional, the Court of Appeal for Ontario also did away with the Progressive Conservative government’s need to rush through reintroduced legislation on the matter.
That new legislation has drawn heavy criticism for invoking a constitutional provision known as the notwithstanding clause to ensure its passage, but the government said it now won’t move forward with the bill.
“I’m feeling real positive,” said Premier Doug Ford, who was in Washington for a briefing on NAFTA talks when the ruling was delivered. “I’m very grateful for the court’s decision.”