Ontario politician wants Toronto to become a province
Phil Couvrette, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Bill Murdoch, a Conservative member of the Ontario legislature, says Toronto should form Canada’s newest province because communities outside the metropolis are simply not being heard
TORONTO - Could a struggle to rid rural areas of coyotes become the basis for the creation of a Canada's 11th province?
Bill Murdoch, a Conservative member of the Ontario legislature, who represents the riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, says Toronto should form Canada's newest province because communities outside the metropolis are simply not being heard.
Mr. Murdoch said the idea of breaking Toronto off into a separate province came to him during a meeting at the Bruce County federation of agriculture where recurring complaints brought him to the conclusion "we're never going to change this as long as we have a Toronto-driven government running Ontario."
The "straw that broke the camel's back" is the current spread of "coyotes" in his parts of the province, he said, a matter locals would like to settle by placing a bounty on them.
"They'll never let you do that in Toronto," he said, suggesting the only way enough attention could come to the plight of rural Ontarians would be "to get rid of Toronto. Let them form their own province."
He says the sheer size of the city - and its voting power - means Queen's Park is more likely to cater to Toronto's every whim.
Mr. Murdoch admits the goal has little to no chance of success, but says the suggestion would at least launch a debate.
"A private member's bill would be one way of getting it debated," he said.
Mr. Murdoch said he's waiting for his constituents to provide input into the matter but says he's already heard from both opponents and supporters as he did the rounds of various radio shows on Tuesday.
"I got an email from [Toronto] Mayor [David] Miller who said he would certainly like to discuss it," he said.
Mr. Murdoch says Ontario Conservative Leader Tim Hudak told him that while he did not support the idea of a breakup "he agrees rural Ontario is not being looked after."
