Dullton Should Bring In RECALL Legislation...

...and term limits and if someone could figure out how to get a better turnout at the polls we would all win.

Issues to debate in mayoral race

January 04, 2010

Today marks the official launch of Toronto's municipal election campaign, with nominations opening for the offices of mayor, city councillor and school trustee. For many of those bold enough to seek public office – and especially anyone challenging an incumbent – a hard, drawn-out campaign lies ahead en route to election day, Oct. 25. No federal or provincial election lasts as long.

And in the mayoral race, the stakes are high, for no politician in Canada directly represents more voters than Toronto's mayor.

For the sake of this city's well-being, it is essential that strong, intelligent people, committed to public service, step forward to assume the challenge of elected office. Just as important, anyone hoping to serve in the office of mayor should advance well-thought-out ideas for fixing the many and substantial problems confronting Toronto. This election should be about city-building and solutions to our problems, not image and personality. Issues that need addressing include:

Fixing a chronic budget shortfall. This city, for various reasons, spends more on programs and services than it raises through property taxes and user fees. Each year the result is a nagging shortfall of $400 million or more. A balanced budget has been traditionally achieved through a blend of book-keeping tricks, raiding reserves and a timely bail-out from the province. But all three fall-back sources have reached their limit. New solutions are needed.

Moving forward on transportation. Toronto has embarked on an aggressive plan for building new public transit lines, but challenges lie ahead, especially finding funding for the expansion. An inescapable debate looms on the issue of road tolls, and candidates should be prepared to endorse this form of pricing or offer alternate ways to pay for the necessary growth of public transit.

More co-operation across the Greater Toronto Area. For too long, the GTA's cities and regions have each pursued economic development in a splintered and parochial way. Yet this area is a single and powerful economic unit – one of the strongest in North America. Its elected leaders need to find a way to work together, as a team, and realize the GTA's shared economic potential.

Increased political activism by municipalities nationwide. Many challenges that confront our cities – such as providing affordable housing – depend on support from upper levels of government. But that backing hasn't always been forthcoming, especially from Ottawa. As chief of Canada's largest city, whoever wins the Toronto mayoralty should be prepared to play a leading role in rallying municipalities across the country to fight harder for their share.

Other issues requiring debate include: what has to be done to accelerate waterfront revitalization; what changes are needed in the municipal electoral system to make city council both more democratic and less parochial; how to make Toronto's recycling and waste disposal systems more efficient and effective; and whether Toronto can afford the traffic chaos that would ensue from the plan to tear down the Gardiner Expressway.

Mayoral candidates, in particular, should prepare their responses to these issues because the public needs the answers in order to make an informed choice on election day.