Ford can’t seem to keep out of his hometown’s business and his latest interference over bike lanes is the most flagrant yet
If a city of three million with a duly elected council and mayor can’t make a decision for itself about something as local and so clearly within its jurisdiction as constructing a bike lane, what is the point of even having a municipal government? Cyclists ride in north on Spadina Avenue, on July 30, 2020.Being premier of Canada ’s most populous province seems like a pretty big job. Not big enough for Doug Ford , apparently. He wants to be mayor of Canada ’s biggest city, too.
The loss clearly stung. Ever since, Mr. Ford has been trying to avenge it. One of the first things he did after becoming Ontario’s premier in 2018 was cut the size of Toronto city council by nearly half. Reducing the number of councillors had been a hobby horse of the Ford brothers when Rob was mayor and Doug was his right-hand man – part of their much-trumpeted campaign to “stop the gravy train.”.
The latest example of Mr. Ford’s interference is the silliest and most flagrant. Last month, his Progressive Conservative government brought in legislation empowering it to removefrom city streets if building them had removed a lane of car traffic. The law is aimed initially at threeHere again Mr. Ford is singing from an old songbook. Back in 2011, under his brother, Toronto spent a quarter of a million dollars to take out a lane on Jarvis Street that had been installed only a year before.
Of course, not every bike lane is a success. If a lane slows traffic without attracting many cyclists, it may prove sensible to remove it.
Government Mayor Toronto Canada City Lane Council Ford Yonge Street John Tory Doug Ford
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow hopes for ‘dialogue’ with Doug Ford on bike lanesChow is facing pressure from the city’s bike activists to meet the Premier’s sudden attack on bike lanes with a show of defiance
Read more »
Limited appetite at Queen’s Park to review Ontario MPP pay Doug Ford says is ‘unfair’Doug Ford said last week it was 'just not fair' that Ontario politicians have not received a raise since 2007, suggesting it was one reason he has promoted some within his caucus.
Read more »
'I side with nurses and docs': Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighs in on hospital parking feesOntario Premier Doug Ford said he doesn't 'think it's fair' nurses and doctors have to pay for parking at the hospitals and health-care facilities that they work at, after CTV News Toronto highlighted the issue earlier this week
Read more »
Doug Ford says Ontario ready for result of U.S. electionAs Americans head to the polls Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, centre, says the province is ready to work on trade with a US administration led by Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
Read more »
Ontario considering buying back Highway 407, Premier Doug Ford saysOntario Premier Doug Ford says his government is considering buying back Highway 407, which runs across the Greater Toronto Area.
Read more »
Ontario to table 'ambitious' economic update, Doug Ford saysOntario’s finance minister is set to table his fall economic statement today, which the premier says is an ambitious plan to build highways, hospitals and homes.
Read more »