# Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative Party: Another Clusterfuck in the Making? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 29, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758 "2018-07-29T03:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/1 "2018-07-29T03:56:12Z")
As a follow-up to the Ford Nation II election thread, this is a watchdog thread for all the shit that this recently-elected maroon will be up to. Obviously this Ontario Premier’s a Trump wannabe, just like Prime Minister Harper was a despicable Bush wanna-be. Without question, Ford will galvanize the alt-right; they see in him their representative. Being from BC I don’t have a pug in this octagon as much as you Ontario dopers do, so hopefully this thread will provide the adequate vent and bookmarked for blowing off steam. [Heh, yeah, a different kind of politician, alright](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-doug-ford-is-a-very-different-kind-of-politician/) (well, some similarities to his suave brother) > [@](#): > > But Mr. Ford is a very different kind of politician from Mike Harris or Stephen Harper. Belligerent and boastful, he promises not just change, but punishment. He promises to “audit Kathleen Wynne,” to fire the CEO and board of Hydro One, to scuttle efforts to combat global warming, to take the sex-ed curriculum away from the educators. He is, in a word, a populist, playing to rising resentment of middle-class voters toward elites. > > “I govern through the people,” he declared last week. “I don’t govern through government.” “Saving taxpayer money”, then? Hmmm, by[gutting City Council?](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/doug-ford-s-approach-to-toronto-council-dismays-hamilton-mayor-1.4031807) > [@](#): > > In an interview from Hamilton, Mayor Fred Eisenberger denounced Ford for announcing out of the blue his plan to legislate the change in the province’s largest city without any feedback from either local politicians or citizens just months before municipal elections take place. > > “I’m shocked and surprised that at this late hour, that such a dramatic change was proposed or was to be made, certainly without any public consultation, which is the most egregious part,” Eisenberger said in an interview on Friday. [And from the Globe and Mail…](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-ford-upends-toronto-ward-system-ahead-of-fall-municipal-elections/) > [@](#): > > This is Doug Ford taking revenge out on Toronto and just throwing a stick of dynamite at council and saying: Figure it out,” long-time councillor Joe Mihevc said. Under the proposal, many incumbent councillors would be pitted against one another, a move Mr. Mihevc described as an attempt to rid the city of progressive politicians. > > “This is not about thoughtful decision making.” > > Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam called the Premier’s proposal “extremely anti-democratic,” and “an affront to our democracy.” Haw, this sure doesn’t come across as some sort of mini “draining the swamp” move similar to south of the border, like, at all! While legal experts are saying he can legally do this, (just like Mike Harris’s controversial mid-90’s City of Toronto amalgamation), obviously the slob is sending a message that he has no qualms stirring up whatever shit is necessary to usher in a term that will, no doubt, leave a legacy of shit. So, elections coming up in October? But those pesky rules, though! Also from Globe and Mail: > [@](#): > > Mr. Ford announced on Friday that he would make changes to existing municipal and regional election rules… > [@](#): > > On Friday morning, the usually sedate Mayor John Tory, who told reporters he learned details of the decision from media reports the night before, and had a “lengthy and animated” conversation with Mr. Ford. > > “You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game. That’s not right and that’s not fair,” he said in a news conference on Friday. “Mr. Ford promised to be a government for the people. Be true to your words. If you are truly a government for the people, let them decide.” He’s asked the province to delay the change and have a referendum on it. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/2 "2018-07-29T04:10:14Z")
Elect a Clown, Expect a Circus! Buckle Up, because it’s gonna get stupider, of that you can be sure! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/3 "2018-07-29T07:24:11Z")
Boo hoo. After 15 years of fiscal mismanagement by the inept Liberals, I’m willing to see someone standing up for taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/4 "2018-07-29T12:27:53Z")
Why does Ontario have such stupid laws that give that sort of power to the province? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/5 "2018-07-29T15:12:41Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Boo hoo. After 15 years of fiscal mismanagement by the inept Liberals, I’m willing to see someone standing up for taxpayers. How on earth can you believe that this has anything to do with “standing up for taxpayers”? This will, by Ford’s [del]estimate[/del] guess, save the City of Toronto about $27 million. About the only thing that tells us is that the actual savings will be less than $27 million, but let’s roll with that number. The City of Toronto’s budget is billions of dollars. A few million dollars is a rounding error. This has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with Ford settling scores with a city council that opposed him and his brother when Rob Ford was mayor. Also, why do you even care? You don’t even live in Toronto! This literally doesn’t help you at all. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why does Ontario have such stupid laws that give that sort of power to the province? It’s not just Ontario – this could happen anywhere in Canada. All governments below the provincial level are defined by provincial law. That means it only takes a simple majority of the provincial legislature to amend the law and change literally anything about how a city is governed. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/6 "2018-07-29T15:32:10Z")
When did populist become synonymous with asshole? Was it Berlusconi? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/7 "2018-07-29T16:57:22Z")
Hm, I’d go with that disaffected Austrian scenery painter from back in the day. The only positive thing off the top of my head about Doug is that he’s not as crack-y. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/8 "2018-07-29T17:57:28Z")
Wait. Canada has politics? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/9 "2018-07-29T19:41:19Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why does Ontario have such stupid laws that give that sort of power to the province? Um, the Constitution? [Constitution Act, 1867:](http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-4.html#h-19) > [@](#): > > **Subjects of exclusive Provincial Legislation** > > **92.** In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say, > … > (8) Municipal Institutions in the Province. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/10 "2018-07-29T21:25:18Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Hm, I’d go with that disaffected Austrian scenery painter from back in the day. Hey, didn’t he also govern through the people? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/11 "2018-07-29T22:27:00Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Boo hoo. After 15 years of fiscal mismanagement by the inept Liberals, I’m willing to see someone standing up for taxpayers. No other takeaways? > [@elucidator](#): > > Wait. Canada has politics? Indeed! Just a little light semaphore to keep all that agrarian shit in check. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/12 "2018-07-29T22:49:59Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Hey, didn’t he also govern through the people? Well, _some_ of them, anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/13 "2018-08-21T04:24:49Z")
[Toronto City Council voted 27-15 on Monday to legally challenge the Ontario government’s bill that slashes the number of councillors by nearly half.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-city-hall-debates-launching-legal-challenge-of-ford-s-council-cuts-1.4791033) I thought this crazy slashing was a sketchy development so I’m glad it’s being addressed. > [@](#): > > Councillor Josh Matlow put forward the motion supporting the legal challenge. > > “We took a stand for local democracy today,” said Matlow after the vote. Whatever happens in court will set a precedent for the city’s ability to govern its own affairs, he added. “It’s just fundamentally wrong for our local democracy to pull the rug from under the people’s feet in the middle of an election.” ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/14 "2018-08-21T11:25:38Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Hm, I’d go with that disaffected Austrian scenery painter from back in the day. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Hey, didn’t he also govern through the people? He was different, though. He was doing what he did because the idiots who governed before him had let their cities and their country come under the control of certain elements of society, elements he carefully explained were foreign and undesirable. He knew that he had to revoke the citizenship of these immigrants and descendants of immigrants to prevent the loss of jobs for Germans. Also, he was certain that leftists had long been manipulating the machinery of the government against him, and that they were continuing to do so even while he now governed the country himself - a secret conspiracy against him, which he believed could only be stopped by firing those against him, removing them from office, or otherwise eliminating these people from positions of power. As you can see, that complex set of circumstances was completely different from the situation today. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/15 "2018-08-21T13:56:43Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > He was different, though. He was doing what he did because the idiots who governed before him had let their cities and their country come under the control of certain elements of society, elements he carefully explained were foreign and undesirable. He knew that he had to revoke the citizenship of these immigrants and descendants of immigrants to prevent the loss of jobs for Germans. Also, he was certain that leftists had long been manipulating the machinery of the government against him, and that they were continuing to do so even while he now governed the country himself - a secret conspiracy against him, which he believed could only be stopped by firing those against him, removing them from office, or otherwise eliminating these people from positions of power. > > As you can see, that complex set of circumstances was completely different from the situation today. **Ludovic** and I were simply referencing twisted populism, not drawing a literal parallel to Hitler’s career. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/16 "2018-09-10T14:33:30Z")
> **[Premier Doug Ford to invoke notwithstanding clause to cut size of Toronto...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/judge-ruling-city-council-bill-election-1.4816664)** > > Ontario Premier Doug Ford will invoke the constitutional notwithstanding clause to override a judge's decision that blocks his government from slashing the size of Toronto city council nearly in half. Doug Ford’s meddling in the upcoming Toronto municipal election has been declared unconstitutional. For those keeping track at home, this is the second act by Ford to be struck down by the courts, and the government is barely two months old. I’m so glad we elected such a stable genius. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/17 "2018-09-10T17:27:44Z")
I happened to be out running errands this morning so naturally the car radio was tuned to CBC as always. There was a discussion panel and call-in segment where one moron, declaring himself a staunch Ford conservative, reminded the listeners that Ford did in fact win a majority and should have been able to do what he wanted with Toronto council. The moderator was being fair and impartial, in my view, but felt the need to point out that being elected with a majority does not give anyone the right to operate above the law. Someone else pointed out that Ford got elected premier of the province, not king. There is indeed an analogy with Trumpism and idiot populism. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/18 "2018-09-10T17:45:18Z")
The concept of the rule of law is frequently in conflict with the desires of populists. I am not sure precisely what the legal basis for the ruling was, since the government’s argument - municipal governments are creations of the province - is in fact quite true. That said, newspaper descriptions of things like court rulings are often simplified to the point of factual inaccuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/19 "2018-09-10T19:09:56Z")
Holy fuck. Ford has announced that he’s going to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to override the court decision. Ontario has never in its history invoked the Notwithstanding Clause, and for good reason. The Notwithstanding Clause is a blight on the constitution. Frankly I don’t believe that it should even exist. For the government to invoke it to satisfy one maniac’s ego is appalling. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758/20 "2018-09-10T19:10:58Z")
And apparently the jackass wants to invoke the not withstanding clause specifically for Bill 5. What the ever loving hell is his problem? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doug-fords-progressive-conservative-party-another-clusterfuck-in-the-making/818758.md?page=2)