If Only That Was The Case

In the real world the edict that the fish always stinks at the heat is an accepted reality but in the pollyanna world that leftists, social in-activists and the trough battalion live in they will always find someone else to blame...blame Harris, blame Harper, blame big business, blame our forefathers, etc. etc. etc. And I don't blame the 40% who support No Plan B Miller but those people who didn't think it was important to get out to the polls.

EDITORIAL: No one to blame but Miller
By SUN MEDIA

We've heard the moaning and complaining about the new powers Toronto Mayor David Miller has been granted under the City of Toronto Act.

Miller gets to choose his lieutenants, the chairmen of the city's committees, who also form the bulk of his executive committee.

Miller and his gang also have the ability to levy new fees and charges. Drivers are already running for cover fearing new parking taxes or the dreaded toll roads, although Miller is cool to both of those ideas so far.

Well, we think Miller should have as much power as possible. Go ahead, mop up that coffee you just spilled. We know it's a little shocking. But follow us here for a minute.

In the last term, Miller could only hike property taxes and user fees, not add new taxes. He had Jane Pitfield, a righty, as chairman of the city's works committee. He had former deputy mayor Case Ootes, another righty, on the Police Services Board, backing Chief Julian Fantino. Miller critic Michael Walker chaired the administration committee followed in the second half of the term by Liberal Sylvia Watson.

This time, with new power, Miller named his political partners to the key spots.

Joe Pantalone, Adam Giambrone, Joe Mihevc, Paula Fletcher, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Kyle Rae, Howard Moscoe and Gloria Lindsay Luby all have key posts.

So, this is Miller's team. That's great news.

For the next four years there will only be one man to point the finger at, one man to blame. The ever more powerful David Miller.

The mayor does have one crutch. As long as the province (and the feds) continue to underfund the city on transit and welfare, he'll have somewhere to share the blame.

Still, this is Miller's chance. It's exactly what the city deserves. We need to know where the buck stops, who is calling the shots, who is responsible.

In 2010 the decision will be clear. Toronto will be a roaring success and Miller will deserve another term at the helm.

Or he will have flopped, our property taxes will be up astronomically, city debt will have soared, the homeless will be on every street corner, the province and the feds will not have helped out, the TTC will be no better off and Miller will be looking for a new job.