While the Province of…

While the Province of Ontario has the right to legislate municipalities under the Constitution Act, 1982; I'd caution the province that, if the policy is to micromanage local affairs from Queen's Park, then, perhaps, maybe, I'd be less likely to lend a sympathetic ear when the Federal Government engages in micromanagement of Provincial affairs.

The bike lane policy in Toronto was arrived at by a democratic consensus among the citizens and taxpayers of Toronto. I don't weigh in on how people in Sudbury are zoning commercial land. I don't weigh in on how Thunder Bay is running their public swimming pools. Why should politicians from outside of Toronto have any say in how Toronto itself is governed?

So, the comment is one of caution. Rural MPP's should be particularly concerned about this threat. Do you really want people from the 416/905 telling your local representatives what do to in your own backyard? Careful eh. Because when that pendulum swings back the other way, maybe there won't be as much sympathy for your perspective on local democracy.