Judge rules against Doug Ford on cutting Toronto city council before election

A judge has blocked Premier Doug Ford’s plan to cut Toronto council size.

The Progressive Conservative government passed the Better Local Government Act late last month in what Ford described as a bid to save time and money at City Hall, but the city argued that slashing the size of council in the middle of an election campaign was discriminatory and arbitrary.

The bill had proposed to cut city council from 47 to 25 seats.

Reaction to the judge’s ruling on Monday was swift on Twitter.

Re: the judge’s ruling this morning, I’ll have more to say about this at noon. Stay tuned…. #onpoli

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 10, 2018

Hey! Wow. Turns out our rights to free and fair elections IS more important that a Premier's vendetta.

— Gord Perks (@gordperks) September 10, 2018

YES! We are back to proper political representation for our great city like ever other municipality in Ontario! #47 #TOpoli #ONpoli

— MM McMahon (@mary_margaret32) September 10, 2018

This is good news for local democracy and to unfair government interference with election. Let this be a lesson to Ford & company - duty to consult is real and we WILL fight back. Soaked and windswept just getting to CBC building to discuss this on @CBCNews https://t.co/hrppjnlskJ

— Mike Layton (@m_layton) September 10, 2018

I want to thank every Torontonian who fought so hard over the last few weeks against the Premier’s plan to upend our democracy without consulting the people — you are what standing up for Toronto looks like. #Bill5

— Jennifer Keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) September 10, 2018

Bill 5 ruling is about anti-Ford activism, NOT application of the law!

Relevant Charter section does not apply to municipal elections.

Arguing the size of wards is tantamount to interfering in freedom of expression is INSANE.

Hope @fordnation invokes notwithstanding clause‼️

— Faith J Goldy (@FaithGoldy) September 10, 2018

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