Accused of a 'betrayal' of voters, Tory defends request for expanded 'strong mayor' powers

Toronto Mayor John Tory is defending his request to the provincial government to strengthen a key provision of the "strong mayor" powers it has granted him, as some city councillors accuse him of betraying the city's voters.

At a news conference Thursday, Tory said he asked the province to give him a "proactive veto" that gives him the power to pass bylaws deemed to align with provincial priorities with support from only eight of 25 city councillors. He said he made the request shortly after the original legislation was rolled out earlier this summer..

"I think that people do trust me to exercise all the authorities that I have, as I've done for eight years, in a responsible manner," Tory said.

"The fact that these authorities have changed is obviously a significant piece of legislation, but it's not going to change who I am or how I operate with the people on the city council."

The province came through on Tory's request on Wednesday by introducing a new bill, which would establish the expanded powers. That legislation has not yet passed.

The bill says the powers can be used on bylaws related to building housing, transit-oriented development or infrastructure. 

Premier Doug Ford's government introduced the strong mayor powers saying they were required to help speed up new home construction and address the housing crisis in Ontario. But critics have decried them as an over-reach and undemocratic.

The strong mayor powers were awarded to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa and give them sweeping controls over city budgets as well as staff hiring and firing. 

They also mean that if councillors want to change the budget, a two thirds majority vote is required. The new legislation expands on that, giving Tory the option to use that veto more broadly.

Tory pushed back against suggestions that he did not raise the new expanded powers with voters during the municipal election this fall.

"During the course of the election campaign the notion of a strong mayor, and enhanced powers for the strong mayor, was discussed extensively and frequently," he said.

A number of Toronto city councillors have spoken out against the expanded powers, calling on Tory to rescind his request.

Coun. Gord Perks said he was "outraged" by the new bill and that Tory did not consult voters about this change during the election. The expanded abilities are an assault on local democracy, he said.

"It is a betrayal of every single person who went to the polls and voted for a local councillor," he said. "I don't think council or Torontonians are going to take this lying down. I think that the mayor needs to catch his breath, realize he's made a mistake and withdraw this ask."