Amid a circus-like atmosphere on a rare Saturday sitting, Government House Leader Todd Smith announced the legislature will resume Monday at 12:01 a.m. to debate a controversial bill slashing the size of Toronto council. Smith tried and failed to get unanimous consent Saturday for further debate on Bill 31, the Efficient Local Government Act, and there was not enough time to secure Sunday proceedings in the legislature. With the Oct. 22 city election hanging in the balance, Premier Doug Ford’s fledgling administration is scrambling. The government is also hopeful Bill 31 may be moot if Attorney General Caroline Mulroney is successful at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday and wins a stay of Belobaba’s ruling. That would effectively neutralize the judge’s decision that Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, was unconstitutional, rendering Bill 31 unnecessary and nullifying the need for the notwithstanding clause.

Source: thestar September 15, 2018 19:07 UTC