Ford set to shrink Toronto Council to 25 members from 47

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As many as 25 veteran politicians seem certain to lose their jobs at City Hall as the Ontario government prepares to slice City Council from 47 to 25 seats, according to published reports. The move, expected to be announced Friday, throws October’s general election into confusion. The move will pit incumbents against each other. Jennifer Pagliaro of the Star says the plan is to align City wards along the same boundaries as federal and provincial ridings. Global News says the legislation could be introduced as early as next week. It says that Queen’s  Park will return the chairmanships of both Peel and York Regions to appointed positions. Former PC leader Patrick Brown and former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Del Duca were vying for these jobs. Premier Doug Ford has scheduled a news conference for Friday morning to make an unspecified announcement.

CITIES THE CREATURES OF THE PROVINCE

The absolute authority of the Ontario government to legislate for the City of Toronto is as old as the British North America Act. It was easier to do before the City became an international metropolis with presumed authority over much of its own business. But there is no question about the legal authority to  make such changes. That authority is why there are no road tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway. But the polar distance between Council and the PC government is stark. Council has just finished expanding itself from 44 seats to 47. This was done in the name of better representation. Conservatives tend to view large elected bodies as costly whereas many Liberals say fewer Councillors make it easier for lobbyists to manipulate votes at Council. It also makes more political jobs. Stories Thursday night say the changes will save taxpayers $25 million a year.