A Legacy That Is Sucking Us Dry...

Keep this Miller Legacy

A successful community program, serving Toronto’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, is set to expire; yet one of the leading mayoral candidates is unwilling to commit to continuing it. That’s a shame.

Mayor David Miller’s Partnership Opportunities Legacy program splits $13 million among Toronto’s 13 most underserviced areas. It has paid for new playground equipment and sports facilities, created “hubs” for artists, and funded community centre renovations. Combined with additional money leveraged from Ottawa and Queen’s Park, the city’s $13 million contribution has resulted in about $40 million in improvements to Toronto neighbourhoods in need.

It would seem these "opportunities" are items that should be part of the routine maintenance and improvements of city owned facilities and should be budgeted even though it might mean living without upgrades to Nathan Philips Square, St. Clair right of way project, bike lanes, Wychwood Barns, $11.5M Homeless Shelter, etc.

But in a debate last week, mayoral candidate Rob Ford said he hadn’t seen any benefit from the program and refused to commit to keeping it. His main rival, George Smitherman, wasn’t entirely supportive of Miller’s approach, either; he said he wanted to address needs across the city, not just in 13 priority areas. Only Joe Pantalone and Rocco Rossi spoke clearly in favour of continuing and enhancing this worthy service.

Ford should change his stand, and Smitherman should drop his nuances. Ending this program would only hurt those Torontonians who are most in need.