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Toronto Mayor John Tory, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford: Midway through the municipal elections, Mr. Ford cut the number of wards in Toronto by about half, despite opposition from the city.Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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Municipalities, shackled

You say “democracy is alive and well in Ontario” (Sanity Returns to Toronto – editorial, Sept. 20). Yet Sean Fine’s article, How The Appeal Court Reached Its Decision To Grant Government A Stay (Sept. 20), reports there is no municipal right to vote. Sorry, that does not describe a healthy democracy. Instead, it describes one that is a bullying premier away from complete impotence for municipalities across Canada.

Essentially, municipalities in this country are subject to the whims of the provinces as a result of the British North America Act, which was an imperial dictate by a colonial power at a time when Canada was an overwhelmingly agricultural society. Canada has changed dramatically since 1867; it is now one of the world’s most urbanized countries, increasingly diverse and well-educated.

That this act continues to shackle large municipalities is more than unfortunate, it is simply not democratic to citizens of municipalities.

As Canadians, we expect that the federal and provincial governments will initiate action to ensure that municipalities are independent, and treated as adults just as capable of making rational decisions as the two higher levels. Until that occurs, shame on the editorial board of The Globe and Mail for claiming that democracy is “alive and well.”

Jack Lee, Toronto

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Toronto’s city council will be halved because he wants it that way (Ford Court Win Sets Off Fresh Battles In Civic Election – Sept. 20). While he was a municipal councillor, he spoke about wanting a downtown casino (Gambling Industry Eyes Toronto Waterfront, Sept. 20). I present Doug Ford. Is he the Premier of Toronto or the Mayor of Ontario?

David Vandervis, Winnipeg

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Hey Toronto,

Get ready to place your bets

What Ford wants,

Ford always gets.

Casinos galore

Will dot Toronto’s shore.

Our mayor frets,

Douggie smiles: no regrets.

Grace Brooker, Toronto

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The deep irony of Premier Doug Ford’s “success” is that he has managed to create a province within the province. By mapping Toronto’s wards to match the provincial electoral ridings, he has created an elected body that can claim to represent the same population as well as the provincial body does, and with as much legitimacy, if not more.

Normand Frenette, Wellington, Ont.

Target a Handgun ban?

Re Liberals To Consult Public On Banning Handguns (Sept. 20): In inviting public consultation on a potential handgun ban, the federal government should provide accurate, unbiased information so citizens can properly inform themselves on the issue. For example, hard data on the source of handguns (Canadian or foreign) used in the commission of crimes would be useful. Also useful would be a summary of the experience of other countries, in particular Mexico, which like Canada borders the U.S. and where gun ownership is strictly regulated (for example, there is only one gun store in the entire country).

It may be too much to ask for an explanation of why handguns are more of a public safety concern than certain legal substances that have a well-documented deleterious effect on public health and safety – although one would be welcome.

Michael Colborne, Toronto

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Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer rejects a handgun ban, which he says would be “completely ineffective.” In the U.K., members of the public may own sporting rifles and shotguns, subject to licensing, but handguns are banned and the country has one of the world’s lowest rates of gun homicide. With Toronto on its way to becoming Chicago, perhaps Mr. Scheer could tell us why we need handguns.

Tim Jeffery, Toronto

Child care? Take care

Re Advocates Criticize Province’s ‘Direction’ On Child Care (Sept. 17): The Ford government’s move to dispense with prioritizing not-for-profit child care for new public spending is a wrong one. Substantial research shows quality differences between for-profit and not-for-profit service childcare sectors. Research also details multiple “nightmares" in countries that allowed significant expansion of for-profit services.

For Australia, this meant not only the chaos of ABC Learning’s abrupt closure but out-of-control fees, lobbying to weaken quality requirements and ultimately a bailout costing the government tens of millions – risks Ontario cannot afford to take. Copious evidence shows that a publicly-managed child care system is the smart way to go, both so parents can afford and trust it, and to protect the public against the real risks that come with allowing acquisitive child care operations to profit at the taxpayers’ expense.

Martha Friendly, Childcare Resource and Research Unit; Toronto

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Doug Ford’s decision to lift the for-profit maximum threshold comes right in the middle of the planned child care expansion in Ontario. Opening more for-profit child care centres might help to increase the number of spots available for children in need of child care in Ontario, however, at what cost to quality?

Like any issue affecting child care, it is important to focus on the impact this decision will have on children and the quality of care they receive.

As an Early Childhood Education student, it is also important for me to know that when I graduate, there are going to be jobs in programs that are high quality and offer professional pay. It is comforting to see advocates for child care speaking out and raising awareness about the potential pitfalls of for-profit child care in Ontario.

Sydney Wilson, Stouffville, Ont.

Hope. At the border

Re Ottawa Can Do More On The Border Issue (Sept. 19): People escaping violence and persecution should not be discouraged from seeking safety in Canada so long as peace and human rights for all cannot be guaranteed in their home countries.

Claiming asylum, even by entering through dirt roads, is not illegal. Nor is it queue jumping. Welcoming – humanely and efficiently, as is the case in Canada – such a small fraction of the 25 million refugees worldwide should not be an issue in a country like Canada.

Selecting newcomers on the basis of their professional skills and upholding the right of those fleeing for their life to seek asylum go hand-in-hand in Canada. Let’s stop opposing economic migrants and refugees. Both equally contribute to what this country has achieved: wealth and being a beacon of hope.

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Who ya know

Re When You’re A Well-Connected Judge, Can You Do Anything? (editorial, Sept. 20): A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge. A smart Supreme Court nominee knows the President.

Douglas Cornish, Ottawa

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