The sooner 2018 is over, the better. For Toronto, it has been an annus horribilis, quite as awful as anything Queen Elizabeth suffered in 1992. It was the year things in the city went from bad to worse. It was disappointing enough that John Tory was voted mayor for a second term, but then Doug Ford led the provincial Conservatives to victory.

The new premier of Ontario, exhibiting the instincts of a Banana Republic strongman, quickly set about settling scores, real and imagined, with Toronto. His first act was to cut city council from 47 members to 25. When they met for the first time last week, the chamber looked hollowed out, gutted, almost abandoned. Was it half full or half empty? It hardly mattered.

Already it’s clear the new reduced council can’t cope with the load. There’s more work than ever and half the number of councillors to do it. At last report, one member, Joe Cressy, will sit on 10 boards and committees. How many places can one person be at one time? At the same time, council barely has enough members to sustain a vigorous debate. Maybe the echo is distracting.

No surprise, suburban politicians — thanks to Tory — will continue to dominate.

That means Toronto’s chance of fulfilling its big-city potential is off the table for the foreseeable future. The ever passive Tory must be relieved. Lowered expectations and fewer councillors means less pressure to deal meaningfully with the city’s most pressing issues — global warming, homelessness, affordability, transit, congestion. He can carry on with his outdated car-centric vision of a city-suburb certain in the knowledge that council’s designated rubes are on his side.

Adding insult to injury was the naked contempt of Ford’s intervention and his sham rationale that amputating council would save money. Even he knows that’s nonsense. It was spite, pure and simple.

Read more:

School boards ‘blindsided’ as Ford government slashes program funding

Land transfer tax shortfall signals trouble ahead — unless Toronto council changes course

Opinion | Christopher Hume: Ford’s TTC meddling is a step too far

But perhaps calling 2018 our annus horribilis is premature; under Ford, anything could happen. Ford hasn’t yet had time to turn Ontario Place into a casino, take over the Port Lands or upload the subway. None of these moves would profit Toronto, but the possibility of the province commandeering transit is truly alarming. It would be a city-wrecker like none we’ve ever seen before. As mediocre as it may be, the TTC is Toronto’s best hope. Hobbled by chronic underfunding, poor management and endless political interference, the commission has never really had a chance. Indeed, all things considered, it does brilliantly.

Ford also made quick work of the Hearn Generating Station, an important waterfront asset sold off quickly, quietly and cheaply to long-time Conservative donors. One can’t help but wonder what was the motivation behind the move. Was Ford doing another favour for another friend? Was he just kicking Waterfront Toronto when it’s down? Speaking of Waterfront Toronto, Ford’s decision to fire the board’s three provincial appointees was a shock though not a surprise. Apparently, their sin was to have been appointed by the Liberals.

Let’s not forget the Greenbelt. During the campaign, Ford secretly promised a room full of builders he would open it up for development, but after a video of the meeting was released, he promised he wouldn’t. Now he has proposed laws that would allow municipalities to do the dirty work for him. Internationally admired, the Greenbelt is Toronto’s source of drinking water, provider of fresh food and air purifier. It has also slowed suburban sprawl.

Have your say:

Short-sighted and self-destructive doesn’t begin to describe the move; Ford’s demented desire to rid Ontario of the Liberal legacy resembles U.S. President Donald Trump’s maniacal need to erase every last vestige of Barack Obama. Also in the spirit of Trump, Ford dismantled much of Ontario’s environmental legislation. For future generations, the price will be incalculable.

It didn’t take long for Ford to grab the attention of Moody’s. Last week, the bond rating agency lowered Ontario’s credit rating because of the province’s $14.5-billion deficit and reduced revenues following Ford’s corporate and carbon tax cuts.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the day’s top news from the Star’s award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter.

Worst of all, however, is how Toronto has been stripped of all control over its destiny. That control always existed at the pleasure of the province, but under Ford, the pretense, let alone the gloves, are off. Queen’s Park has taken over and anything is possible.

Torontonians will count down the New Year with the usual fanfare. Though welcome, there’s no certainty 2019 will be any better. Ford’s hordes will see to that.

Christopher Hume is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @HumeChristopher

Read more about: