Go Screw Yourself - Miller's Mantra

Or so it seems. Even though he trumpeted his new broom policy when it came to special interest groups, lobbyists, etc. controlling city hall and that MFP debacles wouldn't occur because he was going to make city hall accessible to citizens and there would be tranceparency but what did we get......taxpayer funded reports that the mayor won't release, TTC deals not going through the proper tendering process, unions/environuts/social in-activists have keys to city hall and it goes on and on and on.

Editorial: Expressway to secrecy

Sep. 20, 2006. 01:00 AM

For more than two years, a costly report on the future of the Gardiner Expressway has been kept hidden even from Toronto's elected city councillors. And Mayor David Miller has maintained that Toronto residents, as well as all city councillors, should not be allowed to see it now.

There is no good reason for such secrecy. The $1 million report was paid for with taxpayers' money, and the future of the expressway affects everyone who drives to and from Toronto's busy downtown area.

People have a right to know exactly what has been proposed and how it might affect their lives.When city council meets next week, it should push to open this document to the public.

The Gardiner report was produced for the city by the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp. It was delivered in the summer of 2004. A series of related technical studies were produced in the following year.Attempts to make this information public have been quashed, including a recent council committee request that councillors see the report.The report is considered the confidential property of the waterfront corporation, although the head of that corporation has indicated it's up to the city to decide on distribution.

Miller has said he wants the report kept secret because questions remain about how various options proposed for the Gardiner would be funded. He wants a financial plan included and it will take until next year to pull those numbers together.That would delay the release until after the Nov. 13 municipal election.

Councillor Jane Pitfield, who is Miller's top challenger for the mayor's seat, wants the report to be released and she wants to open debate on options for the Gardiner so voters know where each candidate stands.Miller should back the request if he truly believes in open government.

Toronto Star