Will Wonders Never Cease,,,,,,,,

.......a leftist municipal government cutting welfare costs? Based on the performance of the present Toronto council and the bureaucracy what will happen if their economic forecast is wrong?

Conservatives worried about economy, want early election
´The economy´s something that scares all of us, and the longer we hold off, the more the fears of difficulties will increase´: one Tory.

Personally I feel that our present system is abused, kids collecting welfare because they don't like the rules set by their parents, illegal immigrants, 2nd and 3rd generation participants, but if there is a downturn in the economy where do you think the Millerites will get the extra money.......

City plays dangerous game Council pulls cash from welfare budget, as economy weakens, to reverse huge rec fee hikes

By SUE-ANN LEVY

It was all too predictable that on the Monday after last week's recreational fee hike cockup the city's budget brains would backtrack from their controversial and widely panned plan.

That's just what happened yesterday when budget chief Shelley Carroll and the fiscal fruitcakes on her committee opted to reduce the average 21.5% hike (plus 3% for inflation) to an across-the-board 8.1% (including inflation) increase on all fees for recreation classes and drop-ins as well as ice rink, pool and sports field permits.

"I believe this is very reasonable," Carroll told her committee, insisting to the lone councillor who questioned her, Doug Holyday, she'd been doing nothing but talking to recreational users "non-stop" for the past six weeks.

I hate to suggest to the Mistress of Double Talk if she had indeed been talking "non-stop" to rec users, the backlash should have come as no surprise to anyone in the mayor's cabal.

But yes, this is fast becoming the pattern at Mayor David Miller's Socialist City Hall. Keep controversial fee increases, lucrative union contracts and creative new taxes under the radar and hope like heck no one finds out.

When the public does find out, act confounded and deny responsibility, as the mayor and Carroll did last week. Then retreat like crazy, appearing to have saved the day by ordering that the controversial manoeuvres be given another look by city staff or, in this case, undone.

I wish I could say that puts the issue to rest. But sadly it's not to be. In yet another act of great management foresight, the mayor and his budget brains -- forced to offset the $4.2 million lost from their streamlined recreation fee hikes -- have decided to balance their much ballyhooed $8.2-billion budget by taking the money from their welfare budget.

NO QUESTIONS

Not one member of the budget committee questioned the move to lower this year's projected welfare caseload by 2,000 to 77,000 cases -- instead of perhaps yanking the money from the 3% increase given to the grants budget or from the mayor's many green projects.

But I certainly had questions, as did several of my media colleagues.

We wondered how the budget brains could even consider playing with their welfare "cushion" when all signs point to a major downturn in the U.S. economy this year -- even a possible recession -- which could have an impact on Ontario and Toronto.

Even tax-happy Toronto Board of Trade President Carol Wilding warned city officials last week that with the city's social services reserve fund bled completely dry, "the city is vulnerable to an adverse turn in economic circumstances."

Well folks, I'm pleased to report that city officials have it on good authority the economic downturn is not going to happen!

'VERY CONFIDENT'

CFO Joe Pennachetti said they've already allowed for a 2,000-caseload increase and based on the numbers from the last four months, they feel "very confident" the reduction (in the welfare budget) should be fine.

"Some of the dire (economic) predictions have not materialized," he said, insisting the increased welfare budget is "not required" or prudent at this time.

If on the off-chance it does happen (meaning a recession), City Manager Shirley Hoy added the province would bail them out.

"I'm concerned about the economy," Miller, the Harvard-trained economist, said yesterday. "The advice we've gotten is there's enough room, even with an increased case load."

He made sure to add how "very proud" he is that out of an $8.2-billion budget "there are very few issues like this."

Few issues? Huh. Until the next ones turn up.

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