What Becoming A "Charter City" Could Mean For Toronto

On November 5, 2019, an advocacy group called Charter City Toronto announced a proposal to amend the Constitution of Canada to give special protection to Ontario's cities, beginning with its biggest. Motivated by a desire to insulate Toronto from provincial policy decisions, Charter City Toronto calls for provincial legislation that would expand Toronto's powers, followed by a single province constitutional amendment that would prevent future provincial encroachments.

Here, we provide a brief overview of the constitutional mechanics and practical implications of the "charter city" proposal. We also explain why it is unlikely to happen — without a change in government at Queen's Park, at least — as well as its potential unintended consequences.