A Message from Councillor King
Last week, the Provincial Government introduced the Better Municipal Governance Act. Among the changes, the new Act would enable a “strong mayor” to pass by-laws with just one-third support of Ottawa City Council. In my view the legislation as proposed is entirely undemocratic. In Ottawa, that would mean the Mayor, if he opted to use strong mayor powers, would only need nine votes to pass by-laws related to “provincial priorities.”
Healthy democracies, in contrast, are defined by majority rule, where decisions require more than half the votes. Healthy democracy at City Hall should also be defined by local autonomy through meaningful citizen engagement and intervention in municipal decision-making.
The legislation, as proposed, would allow the Mayor not only to make decisions with a minority of the Council but also without rigorous resident input through committee delegation. The legislation does not define or proscribe “provincial priorities” apart from offering a few suggestions, such as more housing or expanded community footprints for transit-oriented development. No criteria are specified for assessing whether the reasons for the priorities are valid or sufficient.
Consequently, the legislation could give a strong mayor and a minority of Council sweeping powers in the name of advancing provincial priorities without any public input. Decisions through the new powers could also conceivably allow the adoption of a new Official Plan, amendments to the existing Official Plan, and even the repeal of an Official Plan or parts thereof. The new powers could also allow the Mayor acting with a minority of the Council to enact, amend or repeal a zoning by-law, including the comprehensive zoning by-law, and also to enact, amend or repeal any other regulatory by-law made under the authority of a statute that provides by-law making powers, such as the site plan control by-law, the community improvement plan by-law, the development charges by-law, the tree protection by-law, and the community benefits charges by-law.
While the Province has described the introduction of this legislation as “bold” and “decisive” action, I see it as a cynical and autocratic proposal designed to forcefully align City policies with ill-defined provincial priorities while eroding the traditional decision-making privileges of our municipal council and the democratic rights of our residents. The legislation is a reminder that cities are “creatures of statute” and I intend to register dissatisfaction with this proposal, not unlike the letter of opposition I submitted on behalf of Rideau-Rockcliffe residents and community associations concerning Bill 23.
Click below to continue reading: Newsletters – Councillor Rawlson King (rideau-rockcliffe.ca)