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There was something quite refreshing, one might even say progressive, concerning Ontario premier Doug Ford’s recent announcement concerning his government’s proposed changes to Toronto’s City Council.

Ford is intent on its considerable reduction from 47 to 25 councillors in our largest city with its approximate population of three million. He is one of those new and rare breed of politicians who has stepped beyond and outside party label.

You’ll have a tough job finding any here. Ours are captive of the same power structure, their differences nuanced at best. For them, even those glibly suggesting they are taking on “ the old boys club,” it is all about grabbing the levers of power and not changing how those levers function.

In the Ford Nation, this is simply not the case. These are the denizens of a different Canadian political culture that is now Ontario’s new reality. They are citizens who simply have had enough of the old ways and are tired of substituting one team with another espousing the same values and policies. Premier Ford, like him or not, is intent on doing what he said he would do. What stands in his way, as here, is an established political class and bureaucracy intent on maintaining the status-quo and resistant to any form of real change. How far he can push reform and such change remains to be seen and if history is any guidepost, he will have his hands full.

The fact is that Toronto’s council is too large, largely dysfunctional and a venue where councillors are more interested in being heard than in saying, much less doing, anything meaningful. Now then, does that situation not have about it an air of familiarity to our own here in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM)?

Ford’s proposed changes will result in a council of one councillor for approximately every 120,000 residents. Right now, there is one such councillor for every 64,000. Presently, CBRM has one councillor for approximately every 8,000 residents.

Clearly, we must have a certain number, even with a low population but why 12? Could not a few less handle the weighty issues affecting our local democracy such as chicken by-laws and the backside covering public consultation meetings that provide cover for them? Why not six councillors and a mayor? Might that not be a more effective and efficient deliberative body where real policies could be set and a measure of accountability for their implementation measured? Our entire island has seven MLAs. Does having six councillors for the CBRM seem unreasonable?

There is another and even more pressing reason for a reduced council. We must undertake true reform, meaning reduction in the size of municipal staff and the monies spent on services, meaning all administrative branches and departments. When one makes such a suggestion there necessarily arises the false narrative of suggesting this will put those very services and even lives in risk and so forth. This results in rendering any cost effectiveness model a dead duck from the outset. No politician will want to take it on. The fact remains, however, that we are a poor municipality and must economize so we will be able to properly perform essential services and other vital aspects of municipal governance.

Nothing dastardly will happen any more than it would otherwise should we reduce capital costs on such items as extravagant vehicle purchases by the police service, eliminate excessive overtime budgets and set actual cost reduction objectives which must be met. For example, the police budget is presently some $27 million. If we reduced it by a mere three per cent per year for the next four years, would that three dollars out of every 100 place our community in danger? The same considerations apply to every other department and branch. Think about it before subjecting yourself to the inevitable whining that will come from the defenders of bigger budgets and more spending. Enough of the empire building and more of the getting things under control must be the policy.

Council can begin the process of this type reform by starting in its own backyard. Have its size reduced and with it have the mayor and councillors take a 10 per cent cut in pay, eliminate all local travel expenses and their current income tax-free allowance, off-island travel is to be limited and provided at economy and not first-class rates, etc. Say to those who you ask to sacrifice for the better public good that you as well are making such sacrifices. Don’t run from what is our situation. Instead take it on and show some leadership. Further, don’t let municipal staff lecture you on what they suggest will be the dystopian effect of a smaller and more affordable municipal government. They did this with the Task Force Report ( remember that now dusty and shelved item) some five years ago.

The citizens and their representatives must set policy and see to it that it is implemented and not the other way around with staff pulling the strings. We need a voice like Ford’s here, so the people will have a real choice in deciding which political course they wish to take.

David Delaney resides in Albert Bridge and is employed by MacFadgen’s Bakery. He is a graduate of Mt. Allison and Dalhousie universities, and can be contacted at david2308@msn.com