City Politicians, Starting With Lastman, Failed To Implement Amalgamation

Amalgamation was not the cities choice but just think what kind of mess we would be in today if we had six "cities" fighting for provincial and federal tax $$$. The strong would vanquish the weak. Lastman and Miller have failed to implement the downsizing required under amalgamation by not harmonizing services, staff reductions, disposal of redundant assets, etc. which would have made the whole excercise revenue neutral. Now we have McGinty/miller thinking they are Newman/Redford.

Premier, mayor moving toward truce TheStar.com - comment - Premier, mayor moving toward truce

August 01, 2007

Ian Urquhart

A casual observer might assume that city hall and Queen's Park are at war over Toronto's finances.

At city hall, where there is talk that the city is "broke," councillors blame Premier Dalton McGuinty for not reversing the previous Conservative regime's downloading of social programs on to municipal budgets. One councillor even called McGuinty a "coward."

McGuinty, in turn, lectured councillors about the need "to make some difficult decisions that go along with their responsibilities." That was a reference to council's decision to postpone an important vote on levying new taxes on vehicle registration and property sales.

Adding fuel to the fire in a press conference at city hall yesterday, a new coalition of unionists and social activists announced plans to intervene in the fall provincial election to campaign for the rollback of downloading.

The coalition said it "will be demanding that every candidate for provincial election commit to immediately resolving this unjust and unsustainable reality."

Mayor David Miller pronounced himself "very pleased" with the coalition's stance. "It supports a view that I've been expressing for a long time," he said.

The scene seems to be set for a major confrontation.

But, in fact, we are watching a tightly choreographed dance that will likely end in an embrace.