Voters Speak Out

Hopefully they didn't vote for the sitting councilors......

City burns, rulers fiddle
By keeping their perks, city councillors have their priorities all wrong
April 26, 2007

$7.8B budget passes, free golf and all

April 24.

The people with whom I have coffee each morning pretty well agree that society is faced with many insurmountable problems. They expect their elected representatives to work to solve these problems, but they have absolutely no faith that they are working on their behalf.

While it is clear that many of the problems, particularly those dealing with hard assets such as roads and sewers, could be solved with an infusion of money, it is also probable that such an infusion would only bring a new set of problems that cannot be anticipated. Notwithstanding the new problems, new or expanded sources of revenue must be found.

Unfortunately, the electorate will not willingly cede any more tax money while certain practices are allowed to continue. They perceive that their money is being wasted. They see red when they read that councillors get free golf games or free TTC passes. They are disgusted when they see that a city works crew requires five people to accomplish a task that they know can be done with two or three by a private contractor.

They are incensed when they find out that they are on the hook for paying for meals at meetings and expensive hotel rooms at conventions and first-class tickets on airplanes.

One of the members quoted his Scottish grandfather, "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves." If our elected representatives really want to serve their constituents and to have the opportunity to work on solving some of the major problems in society, they must learn to treat every dollar as a gift that can never be spent on personal perks or benefits. A vote for a raise should never apply to them but only to the next council.

After the politicians clean up their act, maybe we can expect that government employees will follow the good example and concede that their paycheques also depend on other people's money. Once we are shown that those whom we hire to look after us are serious about being stewards of our money, I am sure that we will be less reluctant to pay a little more to achieve a better society.

And just in case anyone thinks that municipal golf fees are not real money, they should be reminded that most people would disagree.

Harry Coupland, Toronto

I understand that with a budget of billions of dollars, thousands of dollars in savings is small potatoes. But I'm tired of politicians like Councillor Pam McConnell referring to any tax savings as "frivolous." What is frivolous is the cavalier attitude and sense of entitlement that our politicians have toward keeping their perks.

Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be used to fix potholes on our streets, and provide aid to those in need, and resources to keep our city safe and clean. The fact that McConnell has the gall to assert that Councillor Rob Ford is not willing to roll up his sleeves to participate in the budget process illustrates nothing more than politicking and a lack of commitment to find real savings.

Ford is the only one proposing to cut the long list of perks enjoyed by city councillors as a symbolic gesture of restraint during a time of financial crisis. Instead, in their wisdom, our councillors have decided to deplete the city's financial reserves instead of balancing the budget through savings and creative solutions.

I hope they enjoy their complimentary green fees because there is no mulligan for this bogey of a budget.

Manuel Pedrosa, Toronto

After the warning last week from city manager Shirley Hoy that the city has "hit the wall" financially, due to years of draining reserves, and the cold shoulder Toronto received from the provincial government after demanding $71 million in social-service funding, how could the city budget have passed with its perks intact?

And how could that have happened when Councillor Rob Ford has been trying for seven years to persuade his colleagues to cut back on some of their perks?

Seems to me we should be looking for more Shirley Hoy and Rob Ford types, both within and outside of city hall. Where can they be found?

For heaven's sake, speak up. You cannot afford to remain silent.

W. John Trusler, Richmond Hill

Councillor Rob Ford should be commended for doing what a councillor is supposed to do: be a guardian of the public purse.

Individuals and companies must live within their budgets or declare bankruptcy. Governments at all levels are spending like drunken sailors on taxpayers' dollars, but if they continue to raise our taxes, we will all be living on the streets.

We need more councillors like Ford – people who are looking for cost savings and know how to live within a budget.

Bev McDowell, Cambridge, Ont.

Toronto city councillors have lost all credibility in refusing to give up their perks, such as free golf and visits to the zoo. Even if the city were not in dire financial straits, I doubt if such items would be excusable.

Coffee and juice at meetings, yes; free passes to Casa Loma, no.

Barbara Harrison, Toronto