Ford Reappoints Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley as his Man to Get Things Done For Him in Our Region
“The Ford government’s Bill 39 will … allow the government to override local decision-making and handpick regional chairs in Niagara, Peel, and York.”
A News Release from the Official Oppostion New Democratic Party in Ontario
Posted November 23rd, 2022 on Niagara At Large
Doug Ford has spent weeks disrespecting democracy
QUEEN’S PARK — As MPPs debate the government’s Bill 39, legislation that would give Doug Ford permission to bulldoze local decision-making and handpick the heads of regional councils, Ontario NDP Interim Leader Peter Tabuns said that in recent weeks, Ford has trampled democratic freedoms in Ontario multiple times.
“In recent weeks, the Ford government seems to be dead set on flouting democracy at every turn,” Tabuns said. “Ford used the sledgehammer of the notwithstanding clause to override workers’ constitutional right to strike, he limited the usual public consultation at committee hearings and he’s pushing to allow the mayors of Ontario’s largest cities to rule their councils by minority.
“Doug Ford is no stranger to disrespecting democratic principles, with a track record that speaks for itself.”
Tabuns highlighted the following recent examples whereby Doug Ford has attacked democratic principles:
The Ford government’s Bill 39 will implement minority rule votes on Toronto and Ottawa’s city councils, and allow the government to override local decision-making and handpick regional chairs in Niagara, Peel, and York.
The Ford government has cancelled or prematurely cut short committee reviews of key ministry spending plans for the following ministries:
- – Long-Term Care (cancelled)
- – Labour (cancelled)
- – Economic Development (cancelled)
- – Cabinet Office, Premier’s Office (cancelled)
- – Education (cut short)
- – Finance (cut short)
Thanks to Ford government, Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley gets four more years in the Chair’s seat without going through the usual selection carried out by the new Region’s council. What will the Ford government expect from Bradley in return?
* The Ford government cancelled a half-day of committee deputations on Bill 23.
* The Ford government made unprecedented use of the notwithstanding clause to override CUPE education workers’ constitutional collective bargaining rights and right to strike.
* Doug Ford and officials quietly met with far-right Hungarian President Katalin Novák, a close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for promoting white nationalist conspiracy theories and stripping the human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
“People in Ontario care about democracy, accountability and transparency, and deserve a government that does not seek to undermine these long-held values,” Tabuns said. “Doug Ford’s list of affronts to democratic freedoms should be of serious concern to Ontarians.”
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Niagara At Large 
“Thanks to Ford government, Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley gets four more years in the Chair’s seat without going through the usual selection carried out by the new Region’s council. What will the Ford government expect from Bradley in return?” Honestly, I think that you Doug know exactly what Mr. Bradley will do. No one at the Region or our general public of Niagara can honestly say that the last four years under the current (and now future) Chair has not been a vast improvement over the debacle we daily witnessed previously under Regional Chair Al Caslin. If Mr. Bradley actually feels pressured by Premier Ford into doing anything that he deems inappropriate to the Niagara Region, he will press back hard, both very publicly and privately. Mr. Bradley is a man of his word, and I am sure he will not be “owing” or “returning” any favours to Ford’s government for his extended appointment as Niagara Regional Chair.
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Mr Ford cannot spell democracy let alone work under it. People of Ontario should be up in arms over all he has done and doing I have known Jim Bradley since he began teaching a thousand yrs ago and as a friend and a member of his Liberal Exec know how he acts politically. His integrity is untouchable He is and always will be “his own man” Good luck Dougie !
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