Come On Royson We Already Have The CNE

So why would we want to take on another project of the magnitude of Expo when Toronto politicians have proven how effective and efficient they are at managing public venues. And I forgot....we are involved in building a soccer stadium, even though soccer never drew massive numbers to Lamport Stadium and let's not forget the success of the place with the retractable roof. I am not sure but I though I heard something today about the feds stepping up to the plate.

BTW when did Montreal taxpayers finish paying for their Expo?

So, how have we gone about assuring this, creating a buzz, selling it to our citizens, promoting it with the provincial and federal officials, presenting it to the country?

Our mayor is missing in action on the file — relegated to making last-minute calls and failing to reach federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. You'd think David Miller would have Flaherty's private number, no?

Our premier, after years of sweet words about Toronto firing on all cylinders, has reverted to using Toronto as a shield in his fights with Ottawa over the $23 billion he says Ontario sends to Ottawa more than the province gets back in services.

First McGuinty padlocks $400 million in federal money earmarked for housing while poor Torontonians languish on waiting lists for social housing. Now, he's refusing to cover potential cost overruns for Expo 2015.

Our prime minister? At least we didn't expect much. Does he even visit here? Has he ever met the mayor? Can he cry poor with a $13 billion surplus, fashioned from our money?

Talk all you want about World's Fairs being passé and that there is no buzz around the bid and astronomical costs of staging such events. But stripped of the rhetoric, this is a referendum on the city of Toronto. Are we a paper tiger, with rubber-toothed leaders and spineless political representation? Or is there even a scintilla of pride left to even care?

Royson's pitch