A new poll, provided exclusively to CTV News Toronto, shows nearly half of Torontonians agree that city council should be reduced to 25 councillors.
The online survey, conducted by Navigator on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association, suggests while there is "no strong consensus" among respondents, 48 per cent agree with the Ford government's cut. Thirty-four per cent of respondents are opposed.
The bill to slash council, called “The Better Local Government Act,” was given royal assent on Tuesday.
It scraps the existing boundaries for Toronto’s 47 wards, and instead aligns them with federal and provincial ridings. The bill also reverts regional chair elections in Peel, York, Niagara and Muskoka back to an appointment process.
The government contends it made the decision to improve the efficiency and functionality of local governments.
Following the passage of the bill, Official Opposition leader Andrea Horwath called the Progressive Conservatives a “majority government drunk on their power,” and accused Premier Doug Ford of enacting revenge on his political rivals.
Toronto Mayor John Tory called the government’s move “absolutely wrong.”
The city has directed the solicitor to look at legal options, and she is expected to deliver her advice at a special session next Monday.
“At that time, city council will vote to direct any official legal action, which could include the request for injunction relief,” Tory said.
There is also a court challenge underway, launched by lawyer and council candidate Rocco Achampong. A Superiour Court will hear the arguments at the end of the month.
Uploading the cost of the subway system
The poll also shows a majority of Ontarians support the Progressive Conservative party's pledge to upload the costs of Toronto's subway system.
When asked whether the province should assume responsibility for building and maintaining new and existing subway lines, 57 per cent of respondents indicated their support.
The Tories proposed the idea during the spring election campaign, suggesting the province would build and maintain the system, while the city would operate it and keep the revenue.
Since taking power, Ford has said the government will deliver on the promise, after consulting with municipalities.
Tory said on Wednesday that any plan to upload control of the subway system would only occur after "robust consultation" with the public, city council, city staff and the TTC.
The poll contends it's "not clear why" supporters believe the province would be better suited to running the Red Rocket.
A total of 1,034 adults across Ontario were surveyed between Aug. 7 and 12, 2018. Statistical margins are difficult to deduce for online polls, but Navigator says the margin of error for a survey on a sample of this size would be plus or minus 3.05 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
-With files from The Canadian Press
