Ontario residents have come to regret the lack of education of their premier. He is obviously not the only conservative politician these days who neither knows nor understands this basic concept of democracy. “Consent of the governed” is a concept that can be dated back to the late 13th century in response to the Divine Right of Kings (and Popes).
Consent is not just in free elections. It is not just at the ballot box. As in the Hippocratic Oath of physicians, it applies to all acts of the politician in office. Which brings us to the obvious ignorance of Premier Ford and his government.
From the time Mr. Ford took office, neither he nor his cabinet seemed aware of even the thought of the needed consent of the governed. As one of his first acts in the premier’s office six years ago, Mr. Ford ordered the city of Toronto to reduce their counselors to half of what they considered adequate to serve their constituents. Did he think to ask Torontonians if they wanted the increase in service by the city?
Services to people are at the core of services provided by our provincial governments. Core services include hospitals and schools. Provincial responsibility includes inspections of equipment such as trucks, industrial machinery, elevators, amusement rides, building materials and municipal services such as providing safe water and safe disposal of waste. It also includes planning and building of highways.
The building of the Bradford bypass to link Highway 400 and Highway 404 has been going on for many years and the final link is in progress. To add a spurious Highway 413 to this building program is an attempt to please developers who have bought up land around the purported future highway 413 intersections. Studies of these highway developments include research into the needs of the people in the area and their travel habits. Those studies are part of the consent to be governed and should be public information.
Provincial governance is not subject to whimsy. What else would you call it when a provincial government takes time and staff resources to re-institute a patronage tool for lawyers, that was done away with over 30 years ago, to give loyal conservative party members a fallacious title such as King’s Counsel. It makes you wonder if these politicians have enough to do?
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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry
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