From The Trenches Of Reality......

Wrong man, wrong city

Toronto doesn't need a mayor, mainly responsible for the eHealth scandal, who's basically 'Miller Lite'

By SUE-ANN LEVY

So Furious George Smitherman thinks he has the right stuff to be the next mayor of the Socialist Republik of Toronto.

As the "Man Who Would Be Mayor" arrogantly mused after he stepped down as infrastructure minister and deputy premier yesterday, he's "proud" of his own role in delivering on significant parts of the (Liberal) government's agenda and feels he's "leaving a lasting legacy."

Excuse me while I trot out the magnum of Dom Perignon. Let's toast George Smitherman, the province's saviour!

On a personal note, I do think it's wonderful an openly gay man feels comfortable running for mayor of this highly evolved city. As I discovered in my recent campaign as a Conservative candidate for MPP in St. Paul's, my sexuality wasn't an issue.

But just because Smitherman is openly gay, or was born and raised in Toronto, or can draw on 30 years of political experience, doesn't make him the right candidate to dig this city out of the huge financial hole the socialists have created for themselves.

For one thing, if the Would Be Mayor thinks he can run from scandal-plagued Queen's Park and his role in the $1-billion eHealth spending disaster, he's sadly mistaken.

UNTENDERED CONTRACTS

The Would Be Mayor cannot hide the fact he was health minister during much of the time that millions of dollars of untendered contracts descended on Liberal-friendly consultants -- for which only his colleague, David Caplan, took the fall.

The Would Be Mayor cannot escape the fact he and his leader, Premier Dalton McGuinty, rejected a public inquiry into the $1 billion that has been spent to date, with no computerized medical records to show for the money.

Tory MPP Peter Shurman said Smitherman cannot wriggle out from under the eHealth mess.

"He's going to have to answer for the fact that he was in charge during 78% of the time that these (spending) abuses took place," he said.

Is this the kind of "lasting legacy" that makes the Would Be Mayor suitable to lead the fiscally vulnerable city of Toronto? I think not.

Putting aside that scandal Smitherman's nothing more than what I'd call "Miller Lite."

I had to laugh yesterday when Smitherman remarked that he's against city budget chief Shelley Carroll's proposed dedicated Toronto sales tax, noting the next number of years will be "intensely challenging" from a fiscal point of view.

WHAT ABOUT THE HST?

Hmmm, George. And how do you feel about the millions and millions of dollars that will be snatched from taxpayers' pockets by your Liberal colleagues at Queen's Park, once the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) comes into effect next July 1, just as Ontarians endeavour to recover from "intensely challenging" fiscal times?

I haven't heard you speaking out against that tax grab which will raise an extra 8% on all kinds of goods -- gas at the pumps, electricity, home heating, condo fees and rents, haircuts, vet bills, even funeral services -- now not subject to the PST.

I've never once heard Smitherman speak out against the City of Toronto Act, thrust upon us by the McGuinty Liberals. Miller and his minions have used that law with impunity to foist all kinds of creative new taxes, fees and licences on Torontonians.

I haven't even begun to touch on Smitherman's pugilistic personality. He's a man known for bullying those who disagree with him into submission. After Miller, the last thing this fractured council needs is someone who can't build consensus.

Enough said. There will be plenty of opportunity to put Smitherman and his "vision" for the city under a microscope.

I hope I'm wrong about him, but the last thing this debt-plagued city needs is a Miller Lite.

SUE-ANN.LEVY@SUNMEDIA.CA