Mayor John Tory, sending a letter directly to Queen’s Park, is urging Premier Doug Ford to reconsider his plan to cut the size of council.

“Something as fundamentally important as an election — a primary mechanism of civic democracy — should not be changed without public input and in the absence of a clear process or robust understanding of public impacts and costs,” Tory’s letter, sent Thursday night and forwarded to reporters Friday morning, reads. “In light of this lack of any public consultation, I urge you to consider putting the process on hold to allow for a referendum so we can let the people speak.”

He continued: “This was not raised as a campaign issue by any party and therefore in my view, no party has a mandate for such unilateral action.”

The letter strikes a more aggressive tone for Tory, who is seeking re-election, than his initial comments after the Star first broke the news of the council cut plan. He said then he was “angry at the process,” not the premier, and downplayed the chances of a legal challenge. His response then helped convince Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former chief planner, to jump into the mayoral race to oppose Tory just before the deadline to sign up.

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In a response Friday released to reporters, Ford wrote to Tory that the province is pressing ahead with the changes despite the mayor’s concerns.

“I believe, and in fact our whole caucus believes, in better local government. And that’s why we’re going to reduce the size and cost of Toronto City Hall — so that decisions can be made quicker while services can be delivered more efficiently and effectively,” Ford wrote.

“An oversized council makes it almost impossible to build meaningful consensus and get things done.”

Keesmaat also responded to Tory’s letter Friday, saying she appreciates “the value of a referendum” but suggesting the mayor should’ve spoken up more forcefully “from day one.”

“The governance changes proposed by the province were made hastily and without an opportunity for input from the people of Toronto, and that’s not right. The people should be involved in any discussion of potential changes in governance,” Keesmaat said.

Tory’s letter begins by saying it is to “formally communicate Toronto city council’s opposition” to the Better Local Government Act, which is currently being debated at Queen’s Park but is expected to receive Royal Assent soon.

Tory said the 2018 election should be allowed to continue as planned, with 47 not 25 wards, noting the public was consulted on the council-approved ward boundary changes. He reiterated his belief there should be a referendum on the ballot asking Torontonians if they support 47 or 25 wards. If they choose the latter, council would be shrunk to 25 seats for the next election.

“While I voted against increasing the number of councillors, I at least respected the fact that the recommendation was the result of an extensive process including the public,” Tory wrote. “In contrast, Bill 5 proposes significant amendments to the City of Toronto Act and the Municipal Election Act without meaningful consultation of any kind with the public or stakeholders, including Toronto city council.”

He also suggested, for the first time, that other governance issues like term limits for members of council could be included as questions. Taking questions from reporters Friday morning, the mayor acknowledged city council has not endorsed his call to consider including term limits in a referendum.

“I’m only suggesting it as one thing I’m interested in, one of many governance items you could take a look at,” Tory said, adding he used to oppose capping politicians’ terms in office but, as he seeks a second term as mayor, thinks limits would be “good for the better functioning of democracy.”

Asked why he came up with the idea of settling council size through a provincially run referendum, when many want him to fight Ford politically and legally to maintain Toronto’s independence, Tory said a citywide vote on the issue is “the ultimate way in which they can express their views.

“The referendum idea I can tell you goes down very well with the people,” who speak to him at events, Tory said, adding a referendum is “in some respects cleaner and better than a court action which is never preferable,” because of the uncertain outcome.

Tory made no apologies for wanting to get along with the Ford government as much as possible.

“I, as the mayor, have to focus on the fact that a continuing sound relationship — as good as it can be given that we have disagreements including on this, and we will have others I’m sure — is necessary to move this city forward on other issues like transit and policing,” he said.

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Tory, who has a long history with the Ford family and bested Doug for the mayor’s seat in 2014, tried to appeal to him by saying that “hitting the pause button is a sign of strength” and that following a “legitimate process” would increase the legitimacy of his government.

“It is always better to do something right as opposed to doing it quickly.”

Council is having a special meeting on Aug. 20 to discuss possible legal challenges to the legislation.

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