Toronto cannot be permitted to become a charter city

By Michael Giles

Aug. 11, 2026

The City of Toronto’s executive committee (mayor’s executive committee) had on its last agenda an item titled Report from the Municipal Autonomy and Effective Local Governance Program Advisory Body.

In short, this is an echo chamber for certain politicians and stakeholders for what is broadly described as “Charter Cities.” 

I worked in the political sector (federal, provincial, municipal) for over 30 years. So, in a nutshell, I know how governments work both in principle and in practice. The notion of allowing Toronto to become a Charter City would keep me up at night.

For background, the British North America Act (1867) allowed only for federal and provincial powers. Provinces control “municipal institutions.” Municipalities are creatures of the province.

The whole Charter City movement is basically calling for a constitutional amendment to “protect” and outline the powers of municipalities so that a province cannot intervene in municipal decisions. In effect, a list of powers would be outlined, and a provincial government could not cross the line. 

It would mean cities could do whatever they wanted in the context of whatever powers were included in their charter. 

So, is it a good idea? 

My opinion, absolutely not. Quite frankly, municipal governments, Toronto is notable, have repeatedly demonstrated why they shouldn’t get this kind of power. 

Can you imagine the City of Toronto with unbridled taxation and spending powers? Consider that Toronto’s operating budget increased by over $7 billion in the last 10 years ($11.7 billion in 2016 to $18.9 billion this year). What would it look like with no provincial guardrails on the city, and the ability to tax with reckless abandon?

Premier Doug Ford’s government has, thankfully and courageously, intervened with respect to the City of Toronto. I was at the city when he reduced the size of council by half. It was the right decision. Councilors, however, subsequently increased their staff budgets to $482,000 in 2018 and by 2026 to $632,000 annually. Case in point.

The premier’s decision to axe the city’s speed cameras was correct as well. Despite protestations from city politicians, it is worth noting that speed limits across Toronto were unreasonably reduced to 30 km/h on many streets and 50 km/h on main roads which ended up turning the speed cameras into slot machines for the city in terms of revenue. 

The list goes on with respect to City of Toronto decisions from illegally imposed municipal green standards on developments to ill-advised placement of bike lanes all over the place.

A more recent example is Church Street in downtown Toronto where the city pedestrianized the street (no cars) for the summer.

First, the costs of providing security (required) tripled beyond planned levels and is likely much higher and it takes away a major north/south route. 

Second, with traffic congestion making the city look like a scene from War of the Worlds, the closure of Church Street will parallel in August with the closure of a major intersection nearby on Yonge Street - no north/south travel there either. Imagine what that congestion will look like? By the way, Church Street was one of the major thoroughfares where the speed limit was reduced to 30 km/h.

Recall the plan to toll the Don Valley Parkway put forward by a previous Toronto mayor. This would have turned all parallel north/south routes into nightmares as drivers escaped tolls.  Fortunately, the province stopped this, too. 

So, when cries go up about provincial intervention, it’s good to recognize that it’s desperately needed. 

The consolation on this Charter City thing is that it’s not going to happen under Premier Ford or the current Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack who, by the way, is unquestionably the best housing minister Ontario has had in generations. 

However, this is one to watch because the Charter City proponents are not going away. We’ll need to be very vigilant.