Another Day.....Big News Is Island Squatters Might Be Inconvienced

Arbitrated deal would be richer for union

By BRYN WEESE

For Toronto's pickets, being treated like the city's other unions might not lead to big wage hikes.

Residents' new bag-yard

By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA

Talk about justified NIMBYISM.

Union vows to rock boat

By JOE WARMINGTON

We didn't know boats were going to the island."

-- CUPE 416 VP Dave Hewitt

Score one for the city!

Even the strikers acknowledge that, but promise to even the score tomorrow.

Still, the move by the City of Toronto to charter a Toronto Tours Ltd. boat to replace the docked ferries and shepherd islanders to and from Ward's Island was a stroke of genius and good planning.

"It was," admits CUPE 416 VP and strike committee officer Dave Hewitt. "We thought it was locked up tighter than a drum over there. Now we have to mobilize in response to what the city does."

As reported in Wednesday's Toronto Sun by Sue-Ann Levy and Brian Gray, a 1.7-metre, 40-seat charter boat called the Shipsands has been rented by the taxpayer and ferries between Queen's Quay to Ward's Island every hour, and every half hour during rush hours to get islanders to and from the city.

"It's safe to say we will set up pickets," Hewitt said. "It's on our agenda for our meeting Saturday when we also meet with Local 79."

Later in the day, what was a free ride on calm waters for islanders from downtown to Ward's Island may have some waves to negotiate.

Now I know what you are thinking.

Thanks to this strike, now into its 26th day, Centre Island is closed, municipal golf courses are vacant, summer camps are idle, daycare service is on hold, garbage is piling up.

Suddenly word pops up that it's business as usual for Toronto's Islanders, who have private transportation and it's paid for by us?

It's interesting how the city chooses its priorities. It can shut down Canada Day celebrations, but not Pride weekend.

All of Centre Island's attractions are dark because of no ferries and suddenly the islanders have their own service?

"It's a double standard," Councillor Rob Ford said yesterday, a day out of the hospital and emergency surgery in which he's already feeling sick.

"I just don't get it," Ford said. "The tourists can't go to the island, but the people who shouldn't be there in the first place have a free ride by the taxpayers!"

He's hoping city auditor Jeff Griffiths will look at the costs.

So far, the city hasn't divulged any details surrounding the deal to charter a boat full-time during peak season.

The charter rates for harbourfront boats vary, but there are packages available in the $1,000-a-day range.

"During the labour disruption, the city has organized an alternative transportation service for the use of Island residents," explains city spokesman Leisa Tjoeng.

"The city is provincially mandated to operate a transportation service to and from the islands to accommodate residents on a year-round basis."

Ford said it's the first he has heard of that and most people I spoke with figure that if it is, that should mean islanders have access to the ferry at the island airport, and not in essence a substitute service with replacement workers at a time when the rest of the city's services are down for the count.

NO FANS OF PORTER

Several have whispered in my ear that a lot of the islanders loathe to use the special Porter Airlines ferry -- and since Mayor David Miller is not a fan of the island airport, you can connect the dots.

But then Miller's spokesman correctly points out a similar arrangement with a boat charter was worked out for the islanders during the last strike in 2002 when he wasn't mayor.

To be honest, I have no problem with any side on this. The islanders can't be stranded, the city should be trying to run its services, the union has every right to picket and try to stop them and once again Ford is correct to point out the inequity of it.

Meanwhile, I took the Shipsands across and learned islanders just use their ferry pass or used tickets, where I paid $6.50.

"It has just been great," says resident Evan Roerick, a friendly life-long islander who was with his family and a big grocery order. "These people running the boat have been fantastic to us."

In fact, the two university students operating the boat -- Matt Goulet and Kristoph Karbach -- were very courteous, helping people carry off their supplies.

"You probably wouldn't see a ferry worker do that," one islander joked.

That may or may not be true, depending on the workers, but tomorrow you very well may see some with picket signs.

JOE.WARMINGTON@SUNMEDIA.CA

A Bridge Probably Now Looks Like A Good Idea To Island Squatters

Islanders get own ferry from city

By SUE-ANN LEVY, CITY HALL COLUMNIST

While the 400 employees of Centreville have not been able to work for 25 days because there's no city-run ferry service, city officials have chartered a special tour boat to take Toronto Island residents to and from their homes.

Island resident Bill Freeman, an outspoken advocate against the Island airport, says the city arranged with one of the tour boat operators to provide an exclusive service for the islanders from York Quay.

"The islanders need this essential service to get into town to buy groceries," he said.

The boat holds about 50 people and runs about every hour from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., more often during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Freeman says the fare -- at $6.50 per round trip -- is the same as it would be for the city-run ferry, noting the only "inconvenience" is that they're not allowed to take their bicycles on it.

"We're doing fine ... you don't hear islanders complaining," he said yesterday, noting they've never encountered CUPE pickets at the boat.

Asked for details on the name of the tour boat operator, city spokesman Leisa Tjoeng said she did not have the information yesterday.

Asked why this contracted-out service is considered acceptable by the striking CUPE workers -- when 400 Centreville workers can't access their jobs because of no ferry service -- she said it was "probably best to speak to the unions on that."

A CUPE spokesman was unable to answer that question last night but said it would be a decision of the strike committee.

Freeman and his fellow Toronto Island residents have been strong supporters of Mayor David Miller.

They worked in concert with the mayor in 2003 to oppose the fixed-link to the now thriving Toronto City Centre Airport, at the foot of Bathurst St.

SUE-ANN.LEVY@SUNMEDIA.CA

Idling Ticket For You And I....Chartered Boats For Island Squatters

Island residents, who rely on the city ferries to get to and from downtown, are being ferried on boats chartered from Toronto Tours Ltd. Unlike the usual ferry, there are restrictions on how many packages the residents can bring on the boat.

City's pettiness is what really stinks heStar.com - Columnist - City's pettiness is what really stinks

June 25, 2009 Vinay Menon

When I arrived at the Bermondsey Transfer Station yesterday morning, I was prepared for the worst.

I expected to see a mountain of trash as high as K2. I expected to smell a stench so putrid, it would invade my nostrils and forever haunt my dreams. I expected to hear catcalls as I chaperoned my double-bagged garbage past a mob of jostling picketers.

But there was none of that.

Instead, I pulled up to what looked like the most boring tailgate party in history.

Some of the striking workers were perched on lawn chairs, under a canopy of leafy branches. Others stood in a perforated cluster near the blockaded entrance, wobbling in the heat with downcast expressions.

On a sloping hill overseeing the non-action, police officers on bicycles watched with an interest usually reserved for toddlers at the opera.

On the sidewalk, beyond orange-and-black construction barrels, one bearded fellow roamed with a cigarette dangling from his lips and an alphanumeric "Honk 4 Support" placard draped across his torso.

As I waited, and waited, three big rigs rumbled past and did just that. There was also honking of the unsupportive kind.

One motorist slowed down and spasmodically cranked out staccato beeps while thrusting his left hand into the muggy air.

As his vehicle snaked toward Eglinton, his middle finger pumped up and down like a turbocharged piston.

Another driver screamed: "You're lucky you have jobs! Get back to work!"

As I continued to wait, and wait, a young man approached my car and crouched near the passenger window. He offered a kind heads-up:

"Hey, buddy, just to let you know, there's a bylaw guy here and he may give you a ticket if you're idling."

"Thanks for the warning," I said, killing the engine.

An idling ticket? Heavens, what a great way to defuse a potential powder keg. What charges might come next? Jaywalking? Loitering? Trespassing? A ticket because our garbage isn't wearing a seat belt?

Note to the Bylaw Guy: We're only idling because our access to one of the designated transfer stations is impeded. We're only idling because, at this moment in time, we are confused citizens who are transporting garbage under a sweltering sky with minimal direction and no sense of protocol.

Disgusted, I gulped coffee from my thermos and glanced into the treetops, half expecting to see David Miller with a notepad and a pair of binoculars.

A few minutes later, a man leaned into my window.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," he said. "When it's your turn, we're asking that you leave your garbage beside that black barrel."

I nodded and monitored the car in front of me. Eventually, it was waved toward the makeshift unloading zone. Two people jumped out and removed trash from the trunk so gingerly, it was as if the bags were filled with priceless artifacts. Then they walked through the pickets like paparazzi-averse celebrities on a red carpet nobody could see. They sped away.

I waited. And waited some more as a wristwatch was checked and, finally, someone yelled, "Okay, go ahead."

Less than a minute later, I was driving along Bermondsey, still fuming about the possible idling ticket, of all things.

But, honestly, what a perfect encapsulation of this maddening situation: Instead of solving the underlying problem, the city is treating citizens with passive-aggressive scorn, proactive mistrust and a pettiness that is breathtaking.

I guess it's easier to blame the victim. Or create villains when no heroes are forthcoming.

Still, what the hell did we do?

Think I'll make myself a "Honk 4 Support" sign and go stand outside Miller's house this evening. The silence should be deafening.

vmenon@thestar.ca

The Last Line Says It All.....It really is time that we give the island and the land back to the citizens of Toronto."

Translated that means to the "island squatters.

Chow's main beef

By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA

Controversy over spending $50,000 at a posh steakhouse and $80,000 in travel and hospitality for a top bureaucrat have prompted calls for an audit of the Toronto Port Authority.

Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow and Brian Iler, a representative from a citizen's group, publicly asked Auditor General Sheila Fraser to investigate the federal agency, which owns and operates the island airport and regulates air and marine traffic in Toronto harbours.

"The auditor must be involved," Chow said yesterday, noting she has already written a letter to Fraser.

"Really, it's the governance, the political interference, the mismanagement of money, it's keeping things confidential, it's the secrets, it's about democracy ... All of those things need to be examined," Chow said, noting port authority senior staff "spent all sorts of money," last year, which some board members claim they never approved.

According to documents released yesterday by Chow, the former top executive of the port authority, Lisa Raitt -- now Canada's embattled Natural Resources Minister -- spent nearly $80,000 on travel and hospitality in 2007 and 2008.

One of Raitt's two trips to Saint John, N.B. in 2008 cost $4,234, and one of her two trips to London, England in those two years cost $3,622.

The TPA's senior managers also spent $50,000 for meals at the expensive Harbour Sixty steakhouse -- a tenant of the TPA's offices on Lake Shore Blvd. -- in the first eight months of 2008, according to a letter from four TPA board members to federal Transportation Minister John Baird dated March 30, 2009.

But the port authority, which expects this year to turn a profit for the first time since its inception in 1999, fired back yesterday, saying Raitt's expenses were "in line" with the TPA's budget and were allowed in the board's policy, and the meals at Harbour Sixty also include an annual $5,000 to $10,000 luncheon for pensioners and retirees.

Jeremy Adams, a current TPA board member, added the TPA and its expenses are already audited annually, with a more in-depth "special examination" taking place every five years, and further investigation by Fraser is "unwarranted and unnecessary," and that Chow's attack on the TPA is "grandstanding."

And according to TPA chairman Mark McQueen, the letter written to Baird and penned by four of the board's nine members earlier this year was the work of four "disgruntled" board members who didn't get their way when they tried to stop the TPA purchasing a new $5 million ferry to service the island airport in January.

"Having lost that battle, their smear campaign appears to have become only more outlandish," wrote McQueen in a public letter to Chow yesterday, warning her some of the recent allegations against the TPA are defamatory and the board terms for two of four "disgruntled" members expire in 10 weeks. "Their retirement present to the rest of us is to 'burn down the house' on their way out the door."

Tomorrow, Chow plans to move a private member's bill revoking the TPA's status under the Canada Marine Act, and hand the responsibility of regulating the port to the City of Toronto, which has been involved in several legal battles with the TPA recently over who owes who what.

"Since the federal government has taken control of this Toronto board, all we've had is controversy, lawsuits, he-said-she-said, and a complete mess," Chow said yesterday. "This is not the way to run Toronto's waterfront ... It really is time that we give the island and the land back to the citizens of Toronto."

Porter flying high in Toronto By SUE-ANN LEVY At 8 a.m. on a recent rather grey Monday morning, the Toronto City Centre Airport is absolutely hopping.

Claims poised to draw Ottawa MP into scandal
Transport Minister John Baird is facing allegations of "political interference" and "coverup" as part of a bid to bury complaints of mismanagement against his Conservative cabinet colleague, Lisa Raitt, in connection with her former job as head of the Toronto Port Authority.

If You Really Want It Done Put Porter In Charge

For an island tunnel 48 min. ago

Building a pedestrian tunnel to Toronto's island airport makes sense on economic grounds, as a matter of convenience, and as a job-creating infrastructure project. But the idea, floated by the Toronto Port Authority, risks becoming ...

Calling Them Dysfunctional Would Be A Compliment

Comrade Miller Talking to His Supporters

Comrade Millers Flunkies

City Hall seen by a bloke: It's a joke By ROB GRANATSTEIN

After covering Toronto City Hall every day for three years, I can safely say watching city council meetings is something I would not wish on even a New York Yankee fan.

It's confusing, frustrating, democracy at its worst on many days, sloppy, petty, pathetic and a spin-fest.

Delightful for columnists, required for the workings of a city, but just an awful example of how to get things done.

If you go, chances are you'd rethink how you vote in the next election.

Usually the mayor sounds official, prepared and intelligent -- even if you disagree with his point of view. He is the mayor. He has a staff that can get the job done, and does, and he's been doing this for a while and understands how to push the right buttons while at the same time toying with his adversaries.

But I'm always delighted to hear from members of the public who drop by the clamshell for a little example of how our city works.

Reader Wayne Shannon did just that for this week's council meeting. I'm not sure he's recovered yet.

Here's a bit of his interesting take on council after experiencing some of the Jarvis St. debate:

* City council is too large, 22 would be more than sufficient.

* Damn Dalton! He shoulders the blame for giving the mayor dictatorial powers, all be it over an obviously dysfunctional council.

* This was not a discussion on a proposal but a fait accompli. The mayor had already decided this was going to happen.

* The numbers presented disputing the mayor's logic were staggering but it did not matter.

* The normal democratic rules of order do not apply. Their selective application is so obvious it is embarrassing. Even someone who didn't know the players would be able to figure out who is in the mayor's favour and who is not.

"During the discussions, and in the case of certain unnamed councillors, I came to the conclusion it should be a prerequisite for an elected official in this city to have an IQ somewhat above ambient room temperature," Shannon wrote in an e-mail to me.

"It has prompted me to get active for the next municipal election. I am not yet sure what form that will take at this point but I will work for change (for the better) for the next group down there and hope to have a lot of company for the attempt.

"Finally, despite what some of my friends and colleagues think there must be a change at the top next year in this city," Shannon continued. "If there is no other viable candidate to step up to the plate to run against Miller other than Karen Stintz then I will be voting for her. Miller needs to be gone and perhaps Karen may be able to reverse the dismal record of Toronto's previous female mayors.

"I sense that perhaps an 'anyone but Miller' campaign may be growing in momentum."

The next council meeting is July 6 and 7. The mayor's top item goes first on Monday morning. Stop by. Enjoy.

ROB.GRANATSTEIN@SUNMEDIA.CA

NIMBYists Supreme

Porter a rare good news story

Island airport expansion to double Porter passengers,

Hooray for Porter Airlines and its recently announced expansion. Its success is one of the rare good news stories these days. It has overcome the nimbyists and the naysayers to build a successful airline operation. The island airport is an important part of Toronto's transportation infrastructure and Porter has utilized it well.

Andrew van Velzen, Toronto

Wakeup Call For Comrade Miller & His Supporters

Comrade Miller MIA

Porter's new wing
By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA
At least there isn't a recession at Toronto's controversial island airport.


Long-term financial strategy, Toronto-style
Posted: April 27, 2009,
Toronto’s leftwing mayor, David Miller, won his job largely on the basis of one issue.When the Toronto Port Authority sought to revitalize the small airport on Toronto island in 2002, including construction of a small bridge to save passengers the 30-second ferry ride, Mr. Miller headed a campaign to block it.He succeeded. Nonetheless, Porter Airlines, the main occupant of the airport, has thrived. Passengers can now fly from the downtown terminal to eight destinations, including New York, Chicago, Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa. Today Porter said it would upgrade the airport and double its fleet of Bombardier airplanes as it adds even more flights. Mr. Miller didn't attend the announcement. More planes and more flights means more jobs for “hard-working Canadians,” as Jack Layton might say.
Click here to read more...

,,,,Attack, Attack

Miller time? Pass the Pepto

Mayor's state of the city address a spin-fest, but business crowd is too polite to heckle

By SUE-ANN LEVY

For all the happy talk oozing from Mayor David Miller to Toronto's business community late last week, you'd think his regime was on the verge of turning this city into Utopia -- and not the Dystopian environment I've witnessed at Socialist Silly Hall.

You'd think His Blondness actually had a vision for the city during these recessionary times instead of choosing to spend, spend, spend more on pet projects and unionized workers; tax, tax, tax the city's beleaguered homeowners, drivers and garbage bin users and bleeding more reserve funds dry -- leaving the city in a highly unsustainable financial position next year.

You'd think he actually valued Toronto's small and large business leaders in Toronto instead of selectively courting only the academics who speak in the same elitist tongues as him about the "creative class" and the very deep-pocketed developers (he once insisted had close ties with his predecessor Mel Lastman) by giving them a two-year fee freeze.

In fact, as he laughingly told the media after his lengthy speech to a crowd of 300 very polite business people at the annual Board of Trade luncheon, he tried to "speak to the partnership" that exists between the city and the business community and how they'll work together to ensure the city succeeds.

Huh? Partnership, what partnership? It's do as I say or you're on King David's black list. And he does have a long memory -- when it suits him.

From all his braggadocio that day, you'd think Miller actually had a warm and fuzzy relationship with the Board of Trade, conveniently forgetting that at an executive committee meeting two weeks ago he rudely dumped on president and CEO Carol Wilding for daring not to kiss the ground on which he walks for (slowly) decreasing the tax rate for businesses.

COUNCIL RAISES INTACT

You'd think he actually felt sorry for -- as he put it -- the people who have "lost their jobs or had their work hours cut back" conveniently forgetting how he slapped all of them in the face last week by making sure his greedy lapdogs get to keep their 2.4% raises and their $53,100 expense accounts this year.

"As mayor, I believe strongly we have a larger responsibility to do everything possible to see that nobody gets left behind," he told the crowd. "That means no individual, no family and no business that requires the services of their city government will be ignored."

Geez, please hand me the Pepto-Bismol.

Indeed, Miller was in full spin mode that day.

He told the crowd he responded to the looming recession last December by announcing a number of "pre-emptive initiatives" to help individuals and families -- freezes on TTC fares and on garbage fees. He also said (insert drumroll here) the city's 4% residential tax hike this year is "lower than most GTA towns and cities."

Excuse me for daring to question Miller, but we can hardly consider the property tax hike in isolation given all the other creative ways he's raided our pockets.

As for the new garbage tax, it just kicked in on Nov. 1, 2008. It would have been beyond nervy for even Miller to announce an increase in the 2009 budget.

Miller also boasted Toronto currently has "more cranes than Chicago, Boston, Houston, L.A. and Calgary combined" thanks to his development fee freeze.

But when asked how he knew our cranes outnumbered the other cities, he claimed it was based on information from the city's economic development department. Typically, he had no figures to back up his contentions.

But here's the real nosestretcher. King David claimed that all of his regime's hard work is "getting noticed" -- with Toronto ranked "near the top" of numerous worldwide studies as a "safe, liveable and culturally diverse big city."

DILAPIDATED SIDEWALKS

World class city, my foot. To be honest, I was embarrassed to walk along Queen St. with my partner's cousins who were visiting from Tel Aviv last week. We couldn't move a metre without noticing cracks in the dilapidated sidewalks, huge potholes and ruts beside the streetcar tracks.

As for the crowd who attended last week's luncheon, notice how I described them as polite during the mayor's speech and equally professional in their questioning afterwards.

I only wish the mayor and his minions could behave as professionally as the audience -- some of whom were no doubt left wincing as I was with all of the mayor's happy talk.

SUE-ANN.LEVY@SUNMEDIA.CA

Let's Start By Leftists Admitting Their Incompotence

The solution to Toronto's urban angst: Share the mediocrity
Posted: April 09, 2009, 3:00 PM by NP Editor
The centre of the Canadian universe has been badly stung by a Board of Trade study suggesting Toronto is turning into a bedroom community surrounded by a more vibrant and successful suburban region.
"The city's a nice place to live but it's being eclipsed by economic powerhouses in the 905," the Toronto Star, the hometown paper, lamented.
"Cities that were once out suburbs are now growing employment areas as more businesses have pulled up stakes in the downtown core for cheaper real estate."
Oh dear. World-class Toronto eclipsed by sprawling, mall-stuffed Mississauga, which has been run for three decades by Mayor-for-life Hazel McCallion, who just turned 88 and plans to seek another term? We can't have that.
Click here to read more...

You Get What Deserve

Two cities, one economy
Apr. 09, 2009
Sharp differences in character and economic direction between Toronto and its...

Those Were The Good Old Days

Miller hopes for a winner
By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA
When Mayor David Miller thinks fondly of the Blue Jays, he has little choice but to reminisce about a time when he didn't hold the top municipal post in Toronto.

Bridge Coming Soon

Island airport boost
By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA
Toronto Island Airport is getting more than $1.7 million in taxpayers' money to pick up the cost for border service officers, a move Ottawa says could lead to reduced air fares.