昨(10)日早上最高法院駁回安省政府裁減多倫多市議會一半的議席，10月的市選議員數目仍然維持47人。但新省長福特 (Doug Ford) 死心不息，表示考慮使用「不理會條款」 (Notwithstanding Clause)，強制執行他的Bill 5 – Better Local Government Act，決意將議席削至25人。
早前他以削減開支和提高工作效率的理由通過這個議案，遭到不少非議，由於選舉在即，多倫多市議會於是入稟法院挑戰省政府的決定。昨日法官Edward Belobaba裁決多市議會勝訴，廿一頁的判詞中，提到安省政府做法太過份 (The Province has clearly crossed the line)。如維持判決，今秋的市選仍有47個議席選出。
正當多倫多市長John Tory表示為決定感到高興之際……
Justice Edward Belobaba has ruled that the province's process, which lacked any public input whatsoever, is wrong and contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I said at the time & have repeated many times since that you can’t change the rules in the middle of an election.
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) September 10, 2018
說時遲，那時快，Doug Ford再度出招。
We will immediately recall Ontario’s Legislature and invoke Section 33 of the Constitution to ensure the Better Local Government Act is preserved in time for the October 22 Municipal Election. We will also immediately appeal today's decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 11, 2018
福特打算動用Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms，即Notwithstanding Clause，省府淩駕市府，強制執行省府的法案。此前，安省從未使用過這個「不理會條款」。有記者在今日的訪問中問及省長有否擔心會被標籤為「獨裁者」(Dictator)，福特稱他是被選出來，法官是被委任出來。
John Tory隨即聯絡其他大城市的市長和首相尋求支持和建議。
I am reaching out to mayors from other big cities to ask for their support and advice on this extraordinary curtailment of rights as it relates to this city and I believe other cities.
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) September 10, 2018
Thanks to Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau for meeting with me tonight to talk about my concerns around the province's use of the notwithstanding clause. I appreciate his support for democratic principles, democratic institutions, and the importance of respecting cities. pic.twitter.com/1y5FDRsaBj
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) September 10, 2018
大家留意這47個(或25個)議席限多倫多市 (City of Toronto)，居週邊城市如萬錦、密市、旺市等不受影響。
局勢天天不同，大家只好靜觀其變。