Not One Working Paper On Fiscal Responsibility

I also don't see one on getting the best bang for the taxpayer buck by contracting out or a working paper in honoring past council decisions or a working paper about concentrating on the working poor and the truly needy rather than the artistes and the social assistance leeches. Work On Making Toronto Succeed before worrying about Canada.

`If we want Canada to succeed, the major cities have to succeed': Mayor Miller
February 26, 2007
jim byers
city hall bureau chief

Four hundred registrants. Eleven panels. One city.

Some of the best and brightest minds in the city will gather downtown today for the first of a two-day session on how to push Toronto higher on the national agenda and how to improve every facet of Canada's largest city, from improving neglected neighbourhoods to making the city greener to untangling Toronto's transportation knot.

Liberal Party Leader Stéphane Dion, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Mayor David Miller are scheduled to speak about the challenges that face Toronto. Panellists include top city artists, bankers, planners, educators and tourism officials, as well as Ontario Opposition Leader John Tory, venerable Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and renowned environmentalist Amory Lovins.

Panellists will dive into discussions on everything from how to make the city's government and leadership reflect Toronto's tremendous diversity to bridging the gap between "have" and "have-not" neighbourhoods, turning waterfront dreams into reality and how to create and maintain affordable space for artists and creative businesses.

"I think the City Summit Alliance gives us an opportunity to send a really clear message about the future, not just of Toronto, but of Canada," Miller said last week. "If we want Canada to succeed, the major cities have to succeed.

"The summit alliance is a group of business, labour, non-profit organizations, leaders in Toronto, who share one common message: We need to reinvest in our city in order for Toronto to succeed for everyone."

A Conference Board of Canada report issued earlier this month warned that businesses need modern transportation and other city services if they're to thrive and keep Canadians employed. And it said governments have to realize that big cities need the most investment.

Miller said the summit alliance – the third – is a chance for him to drive home the importance of cities to the future of Canada.

"If our country wants to succeed, jobs are created in the major cities," he said. "We need one cent of the GST. We need a national transit strategy. That's the message I'll be bringing to the city summit alliance and I appreciate their support."