But they were able get them back without any problem and if they are looking for their clowns they can be found at Toronto City Hall.......
Taxing week for kids, dogs,castles |
So you think being a Toronto City Councillor is all fat pay cheques, expense accounts and zoo passes, do you?
It is, but there's also the tough decisions. Here's what's on the council menu this week:
Are Toronto's parks for kids or dogs? That's how the city's new off-leash policy for dogs is being positioned.
Pet people want more room for their four-legged friends, and will have the opportunity to grab more park space for off-leash running room if councillors approve the new policy this week.
But parents complain the off-leash areas should be fully fenced to prevent the what-ifs. One bad dog and this policy bites the big one.
Fun choice there.
Of course more staff will be needed --10 more by-law officers to enforce the new rules. How can you keep your budget in check when staff are added every time you turn around?
Then you get to decide on the fate of Casa Loma. For 70 years, the fine folks at the Kiwanis Club have operated the historic castle for the city. Or as a city report stated last year, they've run the place into the ground.
Now councillors are being told to hand Kiwanis another 20-year lease. What happened to continuous improvement? What happened to competition for the contract? We say put the contract out to competition. If Kiwanis wins, fine. If not, tough.
So, do you have the guts to take the castle away from Kiwanis or not?
Finally there's the Miller Masterpiece, two new taxes for you to approve. Thought the first two issues were bad, did you?
On this one, much of the city seems to be vociferously opposed. Charging residents $60 a year for every vehicle registered in the City of Toronto hurts, but it's the steep land transfer tax that has people really seeing red.
With the city facing a budget deficit hole of more than $600 million for next year, and these two measures set to raise $356 million, what do you do? Without these measures there will be blood on the hands of city council next year at budget time -- an 18% property tax increase, the mayor says.
Levy the taxes and it could cripple Toronto's economy, hurt the real estate market, force more people to move out of town and wound businesses.
And if you do bring on the taxes, every single dollar you spend from now on will be under the microscope.
We're resigned to the fact this slap is coming. But first-time buyers should be exempted.
And most importantly Miller must be good to his word that these taxes are it. No more. Zero.
Still, too bad the next election isn't until 2010.
Finally, some advice to potential buyers and sellers. Buy now, close before the end of the year and miss the tax slaughter for now.
Or, in new, true Toronto form, you'll pay.
Still want the job?
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