By John Bkila (NewsHooked) | Monday, June 10, 2018 at 20:21
SPOILER WARNING for Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War
The entire time we’ve known Doug Ford, in his political career, he’s had a goal: to bring balance (efficiency) to the universe… er, Toronto city council, by wiping out (nearly) half of all life… ahem, city councillors.
He made that known during his time as a Toronto councillor and moved swiftly to bring the city’s wards from 47 to 25 once he was elected and given the gauntlet of Ontario premier.
And with all the Infinity Stones — I mean, the province’s notwithstanding clause (more on what that is below) — he can now do it with the snap of his fingers, just like that.
Ford’s motivations strike some similarities to the Mad Titan Thanos (the big bad in Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War film) — the latter wanted to wipe out half of all life in the universe due to limited resources, while the former says his actions would make Toronto’s city council more efficient.
There was a glimmer of hope for the forces battling Ford and his plan.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba (our own version of Thor in this story) came down like a bolt of lighting — Deus ex machina styles — with his decision Monday morning (Sept. 10) to strike down the provincial legislation to cut the size of Toronto city council.
Lawyers for the city argued the plan was unconstitutional and violated the Charter of Rights.
Belobaba cited it “clearly crossed the line.”
Ignore the fact that axing half of a population’s elected representatives (and arguably their voices) so close to municipal election day (Oct. 22) was undemocratic to say the least, but it also reeked of pettiness in politics — Toronto’s council was the only Ontario municipality targeted for decimation.
For a moment after news broke of Belobaba’s decision, the words of Thanos’ adopted daughter Gamora (RIP, tear) echoed in our ears:
“The universe (Ontario Superior Court) has judged you. You asked it for a prize and it told you, no. You failed.”
But alas, like the fate of dear Gamora and many of Marvel’s heroes in the film, it was the side fighting Ford that would inevitably fail.
Mere hours after the release of Belobaba’s decision, Ford announced he would not only be appealing it to a higher court, but more effectively, be enacting the power of the notwithstanding clause — which allows him to override the court’s decision and repass the bill to cut council (easily with a PC-majority government).
It will be the first time in the Province of Ontario’s history a premier will use the power.
“We’re taking a stand,” he said in a news conference Monday afternoon, according to the Toronto Star.
“I believe the judge’s decision is deeply concerning and the result is unacceptable to the people of Ontario.”
So, it appears like Thanos at the end of Infinity War, our “Mad Titan” will be able to “watch the sunrise on ‘a grateful universe’ (or in this case, a major metropolitan city)” and smile.
Featured top photo “Thanos snaps” from Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet comic by John Bkila
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