The relief at Queen’s Park was palpable.Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government dodged a constitutional bullet thanks to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday. The court approved a stay of a Superior Court judge’s decision that struck down Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, which cuts Toronto council to 25 seats from 47. The stay means the Tories no longer need to steamroll ahead with the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to pass Bill 31, the Efficient Local Government Act, and the replacement for Bill 5.While that means Monday’s historic midnight-to-7 a.m. Bill 31 debate was for naught, Government House Leader Todd Smith could barely contain his glee on Wednesday.“Bill 31 is no longer necessary as far as we’re concerned,” Smith told reporters.“We’re really happy with the decision. We felt like we were right all along,” the minister said.“The judge’s decision opened up a can of worms that turns to have completely been unnecessary. We feel great with the fact that we no longer have to debate Bill 31,” he said.“Had we had to go ahead with Bill 31, we were prepared to do that. Fortunately for all involved, we won’t have to do that now.”Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, unflappable while steering both Bill 5 and Bill 31 since late July, said “we’re pleased that Bill 5 can move forward.”“We’ll continue … to work with the (city) clerk (Ulli Watkiss) and get this done for the Oct. 22 election,” said Clark, adding Toronto municipal candidates will have two more days to submit their nomination papers.“The clerk has made a recommendation and we certainly support that — that would extend the deadline for 48 hours,” he said.Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers, co-author of the 1,168-page Oxford Handbook of the Canadian Constitution, said the Tories are fortunate to survive a self-inflicted wound. ...
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