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National Post

Michael Taube: Toronto city staff ignore orders in their quest to rid the city of Henry Dundas

Imagine this scenario. High-ranking officials make a decision about an important and potentially controversial matter. It was made with the best of intentions, and would hopefully ensure the entire process evolved in a proper and co-ordinated manner. Article content Article content Yet low-ranking officials disagree with the decision and arbitrarily ignore the directive and head in a completely different direction. In spite of this arrogant and rather devious manoeuvre, this strategy somehow moves forward without any discussion or fear of repercussions. Article content Article content Believe it or not, this scenario is was just played out in real time in Toronto. Jennifer Dundas, a lawyer and former CBC political affairs reporter, revealed on Tuesday that Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) 'staff have defied the will of the Board of Commissioners in recommending renaming of Dundas Station.' Article content Article content According to her post on X, 'Last year, the Board, led by chairperson Jamaal Myers, ordered staff to recommend a process for public consultation. Staff, however, defied the motion. They have brought forward a recommendation to rename the subway stop 'TMU Station' with no advance warning, and no public consultations.' Article content This, in effect, means City of Toronto staff 'completely ignored this February 2024 order,' Dundas wrote in a separate post, 'which specifically directed them to recommend a process for public and stakeholder consultation.' Article content She's right. The TTC board adopted a motion in February 2024 that clearly directed staff to create a 'framework for considering the naming of Dundas Station and Dundas West Station … with a recommended process for public and stakeholder engagement.' Article content Article content This was supposed to include 'background on any requests or discussion with non-profit third parties.' Yet low-level city staffers ignored what the board specifically wrote and went on their merry way with a new, unauthorized agenda. Article content Article content This is part of a long-standing woke agenda in the city that's largely supported by left-wing radicals and other fringe rabble-rousers. Toronto city council has spent a not-so-insignificant amount of time, energy and resources the past few years on renaming ' Dundas-linked city assets.' This refers to anything in the city named after Henry Dundas (1742-1811), a trusted ally of British Prime Minister William Pitt. Article content Dundas's critics feel he was an awful person whose mere presence has hurt the reputation of 'Toronto the Good.' A 2021 report from the city's executive committee sided with 'many scholars' who believed had a 'controversial legacy.'