Ford chooses councillors to head Toronto’s policy making committees, causes stir at city hall

TORONTO, Ont. – The left wingers can take a seat for the time being, as Toronto’s mayor of one week chose the heads of Toronto’s policy making committees and his executive council, Wednesday afternoon.

Rob Ford picked his ‘right wing generals’ to become Toronto’s policy makers and lead the seven standing committees, causing a stir among many at City Hall.

“The mayor has decided to take control. It certainly isn’t representative of the city,” said Councillor Janet Davis, who was not surprised by Ford’s choices.

“This is the [Prime Minister] Harper style of ‘you didn’t vote for me, you don’t have a seat at the table,’ ” councillor Adam Vaughan told 680News, saying the mayor’s choices show he is on the road to a communication breakdown.

“People are going to have to get used to this,” said councillor Shelley Carroll. “There are a certain number of things in the city that are really up to the discretion of the mayor. They are the mayor’s choice, and entirely the mayor’s choice.”

“He’s not going to consult other members of council on them. He’ll consult his inner circle, and we’re just going to have to get used to that.”

However, deputy mayor Doug Holyday defended Ford’s choices.

“If you have an agenda and you’re the mayor, you’ve got to try and get enough votes to be able to get your agenda through,” Holyday told 680News.

“You have to have people who are willing to follow the agenda, and they’re not. Rob can’t be expected to put people in key positions that don’t support his agenda.”

All standing committee decisions – which cover everything from economic development to city infrastructure – will still require at least 23 city councillors to approve them during a council meeting.

“Shut us out? Put us in a minority position? Big deal. A good argument will still win the day at council,” councillor Vaughan added.

Meanwhile, several councillors wore pink to work on Wednesday to protest Don Cherry’s ‘Pinkos’ comment during Ford’s swearing in ceremony on Tuesday. 

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Also on Wednesday, Toronto City Council appointed nine City Councillors to sit on the board for the Toronto Transit Commission. They have been sworn in, and will have their first meeting on December 15.

Chair: Councillor Karen Stintz
Vice-Chair: Peter Milczyn
Councillors: Maria Augimeri, Vincent Crisanti, Frank Di Giorgio, Norm Kelly, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio and John Parker