SASKATOON—Liberal members of Parliament from Toronto unanimously condemned Thursday Premier Doug Ford’s decision to use the constitutional override clause to cut Toronto city council. In a statement obtained by the Star, all 25 federal MPs from the city of Toronto called on all provincial MPPs to defeat Ford’s legislation tabled Wednesday at Queen’s Park, calling the premier’s resort to s. 33 — the “notwithstanding” clause never before invoked by Ontario — “heavy-handed and disrespectful.”Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau joined 23 other Toronto-area Liberal MPs who urged Ontario MPPs to reject Premier Doug Ford’s use of the “notwithstanding” clause. ( Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS )“We believe MPPs elected in Toronto have a responsibility to defend the city, its democratic institutions, and the rights of citizens to a free and fair municipal election. She said the Toronto caucus is satisfied with Trudeau’s decision not to intervene. “And in addition, the provincial government is free to appeal that decision.

Source: thestar September 13, 2018 16:58 UTC