Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi says if he is elected to Toronto's top job, he will give voters the power to turf underperforming politicians from office.
Rossi announced Monday he promises Torontonians the three Rs should he become mayor: respect, results and recall.
"I am committing today that on day one as your mayor, I will inform the premier of the mandate given to me by Torontonians and of my intent to implement recall legislation," Rossi said.
"Community hearings to determine the best model of recall will begin within three months, and within six months of taking office as your mayor, city council will forward a resolution to Queen's Park demanding that voter recall become law."
Rossi said such legislation is in place in 40 jurisdictions across North America, including in British Columbia and California. Any law giving voters the power to recall politicians is subject to approval by the provincial government.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said such legislation is "not part of our agenda."
"I think if there is an issue, and I think there's a real issue here, it's not removing elected officials from office," McGuinty told reporters at an unrelated event in Kitchener, Ont. "It's getting more voters on election day to get out of their homes and vote."
Rossi's rivals for the mayor's job panned his proposal. George Smitherman said he's "not interested in introducing models that are, at the heart of them, about more politics and a state of perpetual campaign."
Sarah Thomson accused Rossi of making a promise he can't keep since he has to rely on approval from the provincial government.
But Coun. Rob Ford, who is leading most polls in the mayoral race, told CTV Toronto he supports recall legislation, saying it would help bring accountability to city hall.
The legislation would allow Toronto voters to recall members of council, as well as the mayor, Rossi said.
"It's easier to return a broken blender in this town than it is to recall a rogue politician. And that's not right," Rossi said. "Under the current system, voters cast their ballot and hope for the best. It's a four-year blank cheque, and all too often voters are disappointed."
Rossi also announced Monday that Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella, who once worked for former prime minister Jean Chretien, will be joining his campaign team.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Alicia Markson
