Sir: I have been listening, watching and reading about Doug Ford and the Ontario PC party’s attempts to downsize Toronto City council. I don’t think, judging from what I’ve heard, that it is a bad idea, but should have been announced when the Ontario PCs were campaigning, or waited until the current municipal election is over and then go towards the process to downsize for the next election in about four year’s time.
I have also heard similar rumblings in other city communities about downsizing their councils. I have not recently though, heard of our own municipal council doing the same thing. In fact, I believe the issue did come up at a municipal council meeting sometime in the past four years, but the deputation or motion did not pass.
Would downsizing our municipal council be a good thing?
Considering all the conflict and outcry that went on when the city and townships in Kent County amalgamated way back when and that there are still those who believe that the process should be reversed, well, downsizing would not be a good idea. It would not give fair representation to those in the former county or those in Chatham and Wallaceburg.
The cost involved in changing the political structure of our municipality again would also not probably come cheap.
I do think, though, that something should be done about the number of candidates running for mayor. I would hope that there is some sort of application process and standard set out so that it is not just a matter of paying a couple of hundred dollars so some people can proclaim their political agenda, even if they don’t have a chance of being elected.
I suppose some would think that is not the democratic way of doing things, but it probably doesn’t encourage everyone that would otherwise, to come out and vote on election day. That is just my opinion on this matter for what it is worth.
I would encourage everyone to get out and vote when you can, as that is a freedom that people in some countries on our planet don’t have, and some are even assaulted and killed for trying to vote.
Value your right to vote when you have the chance.
Frank Doyle
Chatham
