Is Anyone Surprised At How Petty Miller's Lackeys Can Be

Council dings Holyday for office rent

By ZEN RURYK, CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

Toronto council has proven it has ways of making a penny-pincher pay.

Councillor Doug Holyday said yesterday that the city has started charging his office budget about $125 a month for use of space at the Etobicoke civic centre.

"It's improper," protested Holyday, who has opposed paying anything for using one of the offices at the civic centre.

He contended the rent payments are the result of a "politically motivated move" by members of Toronto's influential executive committee that was designed to drive up the amount Holyday claims in expenses every year. The city is basically just taking back some of the money from the taxpayer-funded budget it provides to Holyday.

"I guess they're spending a lot and I'm critical of that," he added. "I guess this maybe is payback -- or something -- to try and maybe get me to quit commenting on their expenses."

It was the executive committee -- made up of members appointed by mayor David Miller -- that initially called for Holyday and fellow thrifty councillor Rob Ford to each pay $1,123 in rent for using office space at the civic centre in 2006 -- and to audit their lack of spending. In May, city council voted 24-14 to make the executive committee's decision official.

Each of Toronto's 44 city councillors receives an annual office budget allotment of $53,100.