Toronto council backs fight against Quebec’s Bill 21, calling it ‘contrary to the values of Torontonians and Canadians’
by Chris Stewart
A majority of Toronto councillors on Tuesday night agreed to introduce a motion to block a contentious Quebec law from being enforced in Canada’s biggest city, saying it violates the values of Torontonians and is contrary to Canada’s multiculturalism.
“One of the things that Canadians love about this country is that we’re united, we have diversity, and we embrace people from all walks of life and we do it in a respectful way,” said Ward 18 Councillor John Campbell at council’s decision-making session.
“When you legislate against a particular group of people, it fundamentally undermines that idea, that we in our country inclusiveness, that we are all one big happy family.”
The motion from Ward 5 Councillor Kristin Davis asked city staff to prepare a report that examines the potential impacts of Bill 21 when it comes into force on Jan. 1, 2018.
“On this side of the floor tonight are people from all different backgrounds and cultures. As a result, we don’t agree as to how this legislation should be enacted,” Davis said. “It undermines our values of multiculturalism in our country.”
In a brief debate Wednesday, Davis said the bill is “absolutely the wrong way to go.”
Mayor John Tory said councillors were asked to vote on the “political, divisive and divisive” measure, but the motion would be a “good opportunity for the council to stand up and say, stop.”
Tory said he will consider the resolution at next week’s meeting.
City council’s decision was largely one-sided.
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Ward 7 Councillor Shelley Carroll said she supported the motion because of her experiences in First Nations communities.
In an email sent to colleagues this morning before the council meeting, Mayor John Tory said he’d spoken with Davis privately on Tuesday night and “agreed that the legislation would have an adverse impact on city services and will not make any fundamental changes to