Civic group pushing more wards
JOE BELANGER, Free
London's largest taxpayer coalition is making a move that could force city council to adopt a 14-ward system.
And a petition with "legal teeth" by Imagine London, backed by the Urban League of London, also asks council to eliminate board of control.
If council doesn't act on the electoral reforms, the group says it may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
"I think we were all taken aback when they voted to maintain the status quo," said Sam Trosow, spokesperson for Imagine London.
Under the Ontario Municipal Act, a petition signed by 500 residents can force city council to consider ward changes.
"This is not a petition they can note and file, this petition has legal teeth," said Trosow.
If council doesn't act on the petition, the group can appeal to the OMB.
The move comes just as council prepares for a June 13 vote on a recommendation to maintain the status quo.
Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, a staunch defender of the existing system, was unimpressed.
"We've already had a public meeting and we've already looked at it," he said.
"That ward system they proposed wasn't recommended by committee of the whole."
But Gosnell said council could still look at other changes, such as to council's committee structure and ward boundaries.
Coun. Fred Tranquilli, who has led the push for a smaller council, was pleased by the community effort.
"I think it's awesome and outstanding to see the community organizing itself on this issue," he said.
"It just goes to show the outcome of the referendum is the direction council should be taking."
In a November 2003 election referendum, a majority of voters wanted board of control abolished and the 19-member council reduced.
The referendum wasn't binding because only 36 per cent of voters turned out, short of the needed 50 per cent.
Still, council promised to consider downsizing.
A decision must be made by June 30 so any changes would be in place for next year's civic election.
Changing the number of boundaries or wards requires a simple majority of council.
Trosow's group has already proposed the 14-ward system with one councillor in each ward replacing the existing system of two councillors in each of seven wards.
The new ward boundaries would be based on so-called "communities of interest."
Under the seven-ward system, some areas, such as Old East London, are divided between wards.
Abolishing board of control is much more difficult, requiring a two-thirds majority of council.
"That requirement puts us in this endless loop," Trosow said.
"How are you going to get a two-thirds majority when four of the (19) seats on council are board of control? You'd need almost everyone else to agree."
Trosow said one option may be to ask the province to change the
regulation, especially since
Trosow said if council doesn't cut its size, it risks fuelling voter apathy.
On the other hand, he said, change could invigorate voters.
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