City launches war of wards

Tue, December 6, 2005

Council will fight an Ontario Municipal Board ruling to redraw London's electoral maps.

By JONATHAN SHER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER



London council yesterday refused to redraw ward maps, challenging a ruling by the Ontario Municipal Board.

In a 12 to seven vote, council attacked the ruling on several fronts, asking for a review and a re-hearing by the board and seeking permission to appeal to divisional court.

The vote casts doubt on the impact of a decision Nov. 22 by OMB member Douglas Gates, who found the city's seven electoral wards with two councillors each "undermined city council's ability to connect with citizens."

Gates ordered the city to work with a citizen's group, Imagine London, that had challenged the status quo, to create 14 smaller wards with one councillor each.

Council members bucking his decision last night included those who favoured the status quo and those who said the process used to reach it was unfair.

"(If we don't appeal), it says we're going to lay down, roll over and play dead," said Coun. Cheryl Miller, who praised the decision when it was released last month.

"I support change but that's not the right way to do it," she said.

Imagine London founder Sam Trosow said last night voters -- they go to the polls in November -- should turf the 12 council members who supported the appeal.

"They need to be sent out of office," he said.

If Gates's decision is to take effect for next year's civic election, as he intended, he must issue an order by year's end and it must stand up to challenge.

That challenge has merit, city solicitor James Barber told council, which deliberated for three hours as a committee before briefly debating it a second time as a council.

"You have strong grounds for an appeal," Barber told council.

But one of Barber's grounds for appeal -- that Gates lacked authority to delegate to the city the redrawing of ward maps -- seemed at odds with reasons given by politicians to challenge the ruling.

A "stranger" shouldn't be allowed to "waltz in to London" to impose new wards, Coun. Harold Usher said.

"We're having one person dictate, in star-chamber fashion -- unbelieveable," Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen said.

That's not the case, said Imagine London founder Sam Trosow.

City council ignored the results of two ballot questions in the 2003 civic election, did little to solicit public input and turned aside, without debate, a petition with nearly 1,0000 signatures.

Despite those failures, Gates wanted council to have one last chance to heed the call of Londoners, Trosow said.

"(Instead they) kicked him in the teeth," he said.

The vote revealed hypocrisy on council, Trosow said.

Of the 10 council members who voted in June not to allow debate after the petition, four argued yesterday more public consultation was needed -- controllers Gord Hume and Bud Polhill and councillors Ab Chahbar and Rob Alder.

Chahbar defended his position, saying Gates's ruling had changed the circumstances.

The decision to seek leave to appeal will prove costly, Coun. Bill Armstrong warned.

"For us to appeal this decision would be nothing more than a fishing expedition at taxpayer's expense," he said.

In his decision Gates wrote, "There is a pressing need for change . . . the existing ward structure has undermined city council's ability to connect with citizens."

Gates criticized the city's response to citizens who, in 2003, voted to abolish board of control and reduce council's size.

HOW THEY VOTED In favour of the appeal:

- Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, controllers Russ Monteith, Bud Polhill and Gord Hume; councillors Harold Usher, Bernie MacDonald, Ab Chahbar, Rob Alder, Roger Caranci, Cheryl Miller, Paul Van Meerbergen and Sandy White.

Opposed to the appeal:

- Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco and councillors Joni Baechler, David Winninger, Judy Bryant, Bill Armstrong, Susan Eagle and Fred Tranquilli.