Hume And James Zero In On Political Failure

Ten years and politicians have not fully harmonized services which would have resulted in payroll reductions, sale of redundant properties, etc. I have to rake and bag the leaves from a city tree while across the road in the old Forest Hill the city looks after this service. In many areas in the city you will be awakened by a snow plow clearing your sidewalks while I am out there with my neighbors shovelling. Up to a couple of months ago my garbage was being picked up and it cost $10/tonne less than garbage being picked up by city employees. This is no longer the case thanks to Comrade Miller's debt to city unions. And the list goes on and on.......

Amalgamation: 10 years later

Controversial union promised savings – instead it set city on path to fiscal failure

Royson James
Jan 01, 2008 04:30 AM

Megacity politics in shambles 10 years later

City of neighbourhoods' will take a generation to let go of local loyalties

Christopher Hume Jan 01, 2008 04:30 AM

If amalgamation hadn't happened, would anyone know?

Probably not, but it did. And eventually, all Toronto residents will feel the effect, no matter where they live.

Though the forced joining of Toronto and its boroughs left city council and the civic bureaucracy a mess, daily life continues much as it did before former premier Mike Harris unleashed his onslaught.

The garbage still gets picked up, if less often, and the streetcars run, if less frequently. Daily life continues.

Then, as now, most of us remained ensconced within our own neighbourhood. Etobicokers still think of themselves as Etobicokers, North Yorkers as North Yorkers, Scarboroughites as Scarboroughites. Until we travel far enough that the finer points of residency are lost, we're reluctant to admit to being Torontonians. Go far enough, however, and even Mississaugans become Torontonians, something they'd be loath to acknowledge in these parts.

Former mayors look back in anger TheStar.com - News - Former mayors look back in anger

Ten years after the storm, their take on the legacy of amalgamation