Statement from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on municipal elections

HAMILTON — Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath issued the following statement regarding news that Doug Ford will use his power to meddle in municipal and regional elections:

“It appears that Doug Ford cooked up a backroom plot to use his new power to meddle in municipal elections. He didn’t campaign on it. He didn’t consult people on it.

It’s clear that Mr. Ford wants a smaller number of councillors to have more power, fewer checks and balances, and less accountability. This is obviously a move to make it easier for the premier to control Toronto City Hall.

The actions we hear Mr. Ford plans to take not only mean less accountability and transparency at City Hall, but that each Torontonian will have less help and less access to their city councillor.

And reports that Mr. Ford is cancelling elections in which his political enemies are running - elections for the chairs of the York and Peel regions - are deeply chilling.