The recent decision by the Ford government to amalgamate ward boundaries and cut the size of Toronto's City Council by almost half in the middle of the CURRENT municipal election season is a strike against the voice and fair representation of Toronto residents. This is especially detrimental to those living in downtown Toronto's core neighbourhoods - neighbourhoods like ours.

As we looked for candidates to speak out on this issue, the first candidate noted was Ward 21 Candidate and former SLNA President, Suzanne Kavanagh. ​ Please see her news release below.



TORONTO, JULY 27, 2018 - Suzanne Kavanagh Campaign for Ward 21 Denounces Ford’s Council Cuts, Plans Legal Challenge

Current Ward 21 candidate Suzanne Kavanagh opposes Ford’s plan to cut Toronto Council in half and is planning recourse.
“After Weeks of Upheaval in Toronto, Ford is Kicking Us While We’re Down”

Kavanagh condemned Doug Ford’s plan to cut the number of Toronto city councillors in half, forcing ward boundaries to conform to provincial ridings.  “I am deeply concerned about Doug Ford’s plan to scrap half of our city council offices – this will destabilize our government in the midst of a crisis year in the city,” she said. “It’s just a really, really terrible idea - we’ll need to triple the number of city constituent staff.  That doesn’t sound like saving $25 million, it sounds like politicking.”

The changes will profoundly undermine the democratic process, Kavanagh said.  “Reducing the number of council seats is an anti-democratic move.  We already have problems with under-representation in this city and backlogs of work to be done at Councillor’s offices.” People have been commenting on Twitter that this is an underhanded way to bring Provincial and Federal political parties into City Hall. Kavanagh continued, “Doug Ford is playing political games, and there will be negative consequences for millions of people.”

Kavanagh plans to fight this brazen decision.

“Ford’s actions are frankly, petty.” she said, adding “After an incredibly difficult year in the city’s history, Doug Ford is kicking us while we’re down. It isn’t right.”She continued “I am standing up for Ward 21 and now for Toronto - we all deserve better.”

Kavanagh also hinted at the possibility of an impending court battle with the Ford Government on behalf of Toronto candidates “There are surely grounds for a strong and coordinated legal challenge against Doug Ford and his plan to infiltrate city politics from the Premier’s office. I’ll be approaching other candidates across Toronto who have been running campaigns since May to coordinate our legal recourse.” 

For more information about the Suzanne Kavanagh campaign, visit suzannekavanagh.ca

For interviews or additional information, contact Campaign Manager Aaron Binder at aaron@suzannekavanagh.ca.
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The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association is pleased to announce that at the July 2018 SLNA monthly neighbourhood meeting scheduled for July 25, 7 p.m. at 115 The Esplanade, representatives from the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) will be discussing their much acclaimed 2018 recommendations for safe and active streets in Toronto.

All are invited to attend this important meeting about making our streets in Toronto safer and accessible for all pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles. View Meeting Agenda.

To view the 8-page report outlining TCAT's 15 point plan for Toronto -  #BuildTheVisionTO please click here.