Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford’s latest power grab is another attack on democracy
www.thestar.com
The premier is mounting a hostile takeover of yet more municipalities across southern Ontario, Martin Regg Cohn writes.
  • brianpeiris@lemmy.caEnglish
    11·
    8 hours ago

    I hope the rest of Canada isn’t just annoyed at having to hear about Doug all the time. This might just be more of an Ontario (and Toronto) problem right now, but it shouldn’t be ignored just because it is contained in that province.

    Speaking as an ethnic Sri Lankan (but Canadian national), Doug Ford and his ilk remind me very much of the political dynasty that Sri Lanka fell victim to. Sri Lanka saw rampant corruption for decades, followed by a devastating economic crisis and government overthrow. It will take them years to recover, and the political family responsible might still get away with it.

    Keep an eye on the Ford family. Aside from the Rob Ford dumpster fire, his nephew Michael Ford was previously the Ontario minister of citizenship and multiculturalism, briefly attempted to run in the Toronto mayoral race, and is now a registered lobbyist at Toronto City Hall.

    I think Doug is a bit smarter though, and his political cronies and business pals are probably going to benefit much more than his family, but that doesn’t make it any better for the people of Ontario or Canada.

    Archive link: https://archive.is/zXQRP (Yes, I’m aware of the problems with archive.is, but I think it’s important to let people bypass the paywall in this case)

    • rozodru@piefed.worldEnglish
      3·
      6 hours ago

      the thing is with Dougie he hasn’t really done anything especially when it comes to paying off his mob debts that I’m honestly surprised he hasn’t been whacked yet. Look at the Science Centre in Toronto. He ordered the thing closed down immediately cause the roof was going to cave in at any moment. Well we’ve had SEVERAL major snow storms since then and guess what’s still standing? Why did he want the place closed? cause a mob family with ties to development were building directly across the street and wanted the land. They still don’t have it. Look how well that greenbelt fiasco worked out for him, it didn’t, the families still didn’t get it. The highway project, nadda. The spa at Ontario Place, probably not gonna happen. Bike lanes in Toronto, again happened for all of like 2 weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Billy Bishop Airport stuff also has ties to mob family developments to expand the airport and I can assure you, it also won’t happen.

      The fact this guy hasn’t had his knees broken or thumbs taken yet is quite impressive.