Making Toronto Great......

......can be done simply by bringing in recall legislation at all three levels of government so that if candidates don't keep the promises they make they are out of there. Add to that a civilian oversight group that would monitor the actions of the bureaucrats and city employees with the right to fire.

The first step to Saving Toronto is a plan: Tory

By JOHN TORY

The assignment from the Toronto Sun's editor was clear-cut -- write us a column about the one thing Toronto needs most.

My answer is as straight-forward as the question; what this city needs is the same thing it's needed for years ... a real, honest to goodness overall plan for the future. A plan based on real partnerships between all governments, business and the non-profit sector to get our city back on top.

Let's face it: This is still a fabulous city with a lot to offer, but governments and leaders have let it slip. I think it's time to face up to that and get Toronto back on top with a plan that starts with:

1. Attracting jobs and growth. Our city should be the leader in economic growth -- nothing less. We need a solid, detailed plan to compete against the world for jobs, investment and tourists. What infrastructure, what skills, what tourism attractions do we need to be putting in place now for jobs tomorrow? How do we keep financial services jobs? How do we get jobs faster for skilled immigrants? These decisions are crucial. They will ensure a bright future for our kids and help us pay for renewal and quality public services.

2. Clearing gridlock. We can't have our mayor and council beg for transit funding with a tin cup each year. We need a multi-year plan with all governments behind it, not one project at a time. It must focus heavily on transit and providing an alternative to cars, without ignoring our roads and the people and businesses that rely on them. And we need to get on with it now before we strangle the economy, smother our ability to breathe, and wipe out what little family time people have left.

3. Cleaning our city up. I visit a lot of other cities and, whatever we think people say, ours is far from the cleanest. I have always believed we should ask people, schools and businesses to adopt parks and public spaces and help make them look their best. However it's done, let's just do it and stop talking about it. And while we're at it, let's not think about excellence in urban design once in awhile or here and there. Let's make it something our city is known for, every time, everywhere.

4. Fixing Toronto's finances. Governments are still fooling themselves as they raise taxes, create new taxes, run up more debt and pretend everything is okay. Some work has been done but much remains. Other levels of government must help but leadership starts at City Hall. When taxpaying citizens and businesses are struggling, isn't it time for government to really manage costs and lead by example?

5. Bringing hope back to our challenged neighbourhoods. We can't go on turning a blind eye to the physical and social decline that has spread across our city. It's unfair, it's a tremendous waste of human potential and it's a root cause of crime.

These neighbourhoods need physical renewal and they need effective programs that don't duplicate each other or disappear every few months when funding runs out. So, let's pool all of the resources -- governments, private sector, non-profits and community associations -- into a comprehensive and funded program, commit the money and resources for the long haul and the big picture, and get on with helping every neighbourhood in need with a real sense of urgency. A GOOD START

.......but I am sorry John it is just more bullshit. Show me some goals; ie: how many jobs do we want to see each year; put the homeless to work cleaning up our streets, a freeze on wages and a cutback in councilors salaries/budgets, neighborhoods need to step forward when crime is committed instead of setting up a wall of silence, etc.