Toronto councillors need to make "difficult decisions" like increasing taxes because there are no imminent plans to bail out the city, Premier Dalton McGuinty warned yesterday – a comment that prompted the first signals of shifting ground at city hall.
Calling the premier a "coward'' and a "man of inaction,'' Councillor Maria Augimeri (Ward 9, York Centre) said last night she's changed her mind since last week's vote to defer a decision on new taxes until after the Oct. 11 provincial election.
The left-leaning council veteran, who voted for the deferral in hopes the province would take back some of the city's costs for social services, now wants the issue of implementing land-transfer and vehicle-registration taxes reopened when council reconvenes in September.
"I thought the provincial parties would come out in strong support of Toronto. Call me naïve,'' Augimeri said. She said she's lost faith the province will help, given McGuinty's comments and those last week by Conservative leader John Tory, who said he'd wait for a pending report on municipal downloading before committing himself.
A move to reopen the vote, which narrowly passed 23-22, would require two-thirds support at council.
That's unlikely. And it's unclear how Augimeri's change of position would affect the outcome. For instance, at least one councillor, Paul Ainslie (Ward 43 Scarborough East), voted against deferring because he didn't want to delay a decision, but is opposed to the new taxes.
"We'll see what happens over the next little while," said Don Wanagas, a spokesperson for Mayor David Miller, who added that McGuinty's remarks about the city needing to take its own steps to address its fiscal woes are in keeping with the mayor's statements before last week's vote.
Augimeri said a new land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee would be the easiest for Toronto to implement because they could be "piggybacked'' on existing provincial taxes. "I would do this (vote for the new taxes) to save the seniors in my ward because they wouldn't have to pay higher property taxes,'' she said.
Speaking during a campaign-style swing through Guelph, the premier lashed out at the councillors who had lobbied the province long and hard for additional taxing powers, then failed to use them.
Time to show some leadership, Mr. Mayor |
Now we know what happens when Mayor David Miller loses -- and it's ugly.
Miller's scare tactics of threatening to shut down a subway line, raise TTC fares and cut service turned out to be just part of the heap of horrors the mayor and his crew stacked on the city last week.
It started with a vote on steep new taxes -- adding $356 million to the city coffers.
But councillors couldn't even agree to take a stand on anything and instead put the issue off for three more months.
Then TD Bank issued a report showing the Greater Toronto Area's economy is lagging behind the rest of the country, leading to a decline in our standard of living.
Toronto itself dragged down the entire region with its lacklustre 0.7% growth in the p ast five years, compared to 4.2% in the rest of the GTA.
The economists also warned that many immigrants flooding Toronto -- we get 42% of all newcomers to Canada -- aren't succeeding as well as they used to, and that if their kids, who are in school now, also fail to get ahead, we're looking at huge problems.
Economist Don Drummond cautioned with the city's empty bank book, the ability to assist struggling citizens is diminishing.
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It feels like a ticket blitz with a twist. Two parking tickets for the same infraction 30 minutes apart. Regular parking tickets for being a minute past the time outside of your church. Obvious organized stings to nail people driving in the city's diamond lanes, resulting in more than 1,200 people receiving citations -- in one week. Do you get the feeling something is going on here? "Something doesn't smell right to me," Councillor Rob Ford said last night. It does feel like a shakedown sometimes. It's certainly excessive and, many times, unnecessary extra taxation on any already poorly treated Toronto taxpayer. |
Updated Tue. Jul. 24 2007 5:47 PM ET
Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- Native leaders and opposition MPs are fuming over a Conservative push for contentious changes to human rights law.
The Tories have taken the rare step of recalling 12 MPs to Ottawa in mid-summer for what could be a steamy meeting Thursday of the Commons all-party aboriginal affairs committee. "It's definitely not sowing any good will," said NDP native-affairs critic and committee member Jean Crowder from her British Columbia riding.
"I can only speak for myself, but I can't imagine anybody else is any happier than I am with being recalled to Ottawa when we've got work at home to do."
At issue is a bill that would allow First Nation members to launch human-rights complaints against band councils or Ottawa. The Conservatives want to repeal a section of the Canadian Human Rights Act that has barred such complaints since the legislation was passed in 1977.
Greater Toronto Area water and sewer pipes are deteriorating faster than they are being repaired, and dramatic change is needed to ensure safe and reliable service, says a construction industry group.
The group notes that 20 per cent of the water mains in Toronto are more than 80 years old. Their expected lifespan is 50 to 80 years.
Two reports, commissioned by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario and released Tuesday, make numerous recommendations to improve the systems and how they are funded.
Among the recommendations in a report by Trent University economic professor Harry Kitchen, are:
The report, by Tamer El-Diraby, a University of Toronto associate professor of civil engineering, says the management culture must change. The current arrangement is "marred with politics and very little policy," he says.
He urges:
Those on social assistance and those that bitch and gripe might read the bio of JKRowlings......
June 2007 -- What should parents of color do when their children express concerns about 'acting white'? Columnist Dana Williams shares her story.
Dana Williams
I've always referred to my precocious 10-year-old son as a real character, with his wise-beyond-his-years vocabulary, mature sense of humor and timing as dead-on as any comedian I've seen. And it seems I’m not the only one who has taken notice.
For the second time in less than a year, he recently aced an audition for a role in an upcoming play at a renowned theatre festival in our area. This time, he will portray a young boy by the name of June Bug, a nickname I sometimes call him at home, ironically.
The play is a serious drama that takes place in a small Texas town just after the assassination of President Kennedy. The community finds itself wrestling not only with grief following President Kennedy's death, but with its own painful history of bigotry and tense race relations. June Bug sees the world through the eyes of an extremely inquisitive 9-year-old, and finds much of what is taking place around him rather perplexing.
I knew as soon as I saw the script that the material would bring about some interesting conversations with my son. The most interesting conversation, however, was one that I would never have predicted.
Reviewing the lines with my son, he seemed to have a difficult time bringing June Bug's dialect to life, a mix of "broken" English along with a heavy southern accent. My son read the lines with as much feeling as he could muster, but his precise enunciation of words that weren't intended to be read as such sounded pretty unconvincing.
"You're reading the words too correctly," I told him. He wrinkled his nose and looked at me with an expression that is becoming increasingly familiar the older he gets –- I like to call it the "mom doesn't know anything" face.
I demonstrated a few of the lines, trying to help him make the dialect sound more authentic. My example seemed to help, and he read several more lines that sounded far more believable than anything I'd just recited.
"See, you got it," I exclaimed. "I bet that's exactly the way June Bug is supposed to sound!"
He nodded and read a few more lines before putting the paper down on the coffee table.
"Mom," he said, with his voice rising up high at the end of the word as though it were a question. "Do you think I act white?"
I knew all too well what this meant, but I asked the question anyway.
"What does ‘acting white' mean?" I probed.
"Well, you know, when you talk really proper, always using the right grammar and stuff," he said.
Shackled by labels
His answer gave me a sinking feeling. I couldn't help but think of many, many years ago when I was about his age and was frequently ridiculed by my classmates for "acting white" and "talking too proper." I felt sad and disappointed to hear from my son that so many years later, this way of thinking still is making its way into the minds of young kids.
I asked him where he had heard the idea that speaking well meant you were "acting white," and as I suspected, he told me other kids had teased him about it before.
Though certainly not a new phenomenon, this notion of "acting white" and the impact the label has on African American youngsters has been debated by everyone from Barack Obama to Bill Cosby in recent years.
In too many instances, young black children are teased by peers for "talking too proper," for following too many rules and in some cases, for studying too hard. Too many black youth -– especially boys –- continue to be shackled by the notion that those who strive for high academic achievement and speak and carry themselves in a manner that is considered too "mainstream" are somehow less "cool" and less black.
There are a myriad of influences contributing to this way of thinking, but perhaps the most powerful is that of popular culture. I know that in so many ways, whether or not peers ridicule my son and tell him how he should and should not speak or act, the videos, music and other forms of media he is regularly exposed to send an even louder message. These influences, often steeped in stereotypes, too often set the standard for what it means to be young, black and "cool" in our society.
All parents must work to combat these influences. And as parents of color, we must work even harder to counter such influences with real-life examples of the importance of education in our past and our present. We must make sure all our children know that every leader who has ever truly uplifted his or her community or changed the world did so by speaking and carrying themselves in a manner that commanded respect -- something no one race or creed claims the sole rights to.
That day, my son and I took a break from reading June Bug's lines, and I shared with him how I, too, was teased as a young person for "acting too white" or not being "black enough." And I told him something along the lines of what I remember my mother telling me: "You don't have to act who you are – you can only be who you are, and that will always be enough."
Of course I also added a few wise words of my own: "Acting is for the theatre, June Bug." (OK, maybe not so wise).
As expected, my son wrinkled his nose at me once again, gave me "the look," and picked up his script.
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By Peter J. Smith
OTTAWA, July 19, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Free Dominion, a Canadian conservative web forum, has been targeted via the Canada's Human Rights Commission (HRC) over allegations the conservative site promotes "hate speech."
"We have been waiting for six and a half years and the day has finally arrived, somebody is going to try to silence Free Dominion using the Canadian Human Rights Commission," Mark Fourier quipped in posting the letter. "Somebody has likely decided that because they can't defeat some argument presented by someone at Free Dominion they will instead try to silence the whole site. It isn't going to work."
A redacted copy of the letter sent by the HRC has been posted on the Free Dominion website (freedominion.ca) informing the conservative site of the complaint and that it has the option to settle before the investigation proceeds further. (http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=84457)
While the right of citizens to exercise free speech used to be a hallmark of free democracies, Canada's Human Rights Commissions have taken to determining what ideas Canadian citizens may communicate with each other or with whom Canadians may freely associate.
Connie Wilkins of Free Dominion spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about the human rights complaint filed with the HRC by a certain"Ms. Gentes" accusing the site of promoting "hate speech" although the HRC has refused to say what protected groups are offended.
Wilkins told LifeSiteNews.com that the HRC claimed it sent the full complaint via Canada Post on June 9 with signature required. However, Free Dominion had received no word of this complaint until yesterday evening, when they received a second letter from the HRC telling them to respond to the complaint of "Ms. Gentes" by July 18, the very day they were required to respond.
After explaining the situation to an HRC official, Wilkins was told only that Free Dominion was accused of "hate speech" under Sec. 13 of the Human Rights Act and that they would resend the original complaint. While the officer said there were specifics in the complaint, he refused to mention them and said they would be found in the original complaint which they should receive Monday.
"It's frightening," Wilkins said commenting on the way the HRC has used allegations of "hate speech" to shut down the viewpoints of conservatives and Christians, such as Christian printer Scott Brockie and other individuals with smaller resources to defend themselves than Free Dominion. (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/apr/04041604.html)
Wilkins explained that Free Dominion (freedominion.ca) is "an online meeting place for conservatives across the country to get together, strategise, plan, and do everything."
"They prefer it when conservatives are isolated from one another and can't talk and organise" to oppose the leftist agenda, Wilkins continued. One Free Dominion project was helping organise Canadians to vote to abolish abortion as the number one wish for the CBC's Great Canadian Wish Contest done in cooperation with Facebook. (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jul/07070305.html)
"I think the most significant thing about this is how much in the dark we are being kept," said Wilkins. "I mean you would think that if you're being charged with something and there is an allegation against, the first thing that they would do is tell you."
"There have been a lot of people rallying around us already," said Wilkins. "I think that it will be good if people start reporting this and show what the [Human Rights Commissions] do. A lot of Canadians don't realise this. They hear hate crimes laws and think that's a really good thing. They don't understand it's used as a club."
Wilkins said Free Dominion will fight the complaint all the way.
Much of the argument that takes place over whether America should stay or go from Iraq still seems to revolve around the reasons why the US went in. A reversion to such a debate serves no point and ignores the fundamental reality that whether one supported the war or not is now an irrelevancy.
The contributors to this journal have differing views on the war and indeed what should be done from here.
What fact is inescapable however is that there is a real risk that a US withdrawal could lead to America isolationism.
To many on the left this would be a great thing given their desire to see Hugo Chavez and friends nationalise and proselytize about the evils of America and "American hegemony."
Saner voices however would consider what the alternative is to an active America in world affairs. Does anyone seriously think the Chinese state or the Russians or the Iranians would ensure a freer, more democratic world with a greater emphasis on human rights?
America may not get it right all the time but let's pause to reflect how the world may look if America decides to sit on the bench and let others take to the field.
Two accused of first-degree murder after weekend gunfight; mayor renews call for total handgun ban 12:41 AM
Blowing smoke on gun crimeIn calling for a handgun ban, again, David Miller and Michael Bryant aren't doing their jobs |
Memo to Mayor David Miller and Attorney-General Michael Bryant.
If the best you can do in the wake of another fatal shooting of an innocent child -- part of a weekend of deadly gun violence in Toronto -- is to call for a federal handgun ban, again, do us all a favour.
Save your breath and our time, because we've heard it all before.
Do you think people don't know what a predictable attempt at misdirection this is?
Do you think they don't realize that the first thing politicians do when faced with a crisis is to blame another level of government -- in this case, Ottawa?
The feds -- both previous Liberal and Conservative governments -- have plenty to answer for when it comes to our lax criminal justice system.
But if you're going to contribute meaningfully to fighting gang and gun violence in Toronto, we don't need to hear, again, what you two think the feds should do.
We heard it from you during the 2006 federal election when another child, Jane Creba, 15, was gunned down while shopping with her family on Boxing Day on Yonge St. We don't need to hear it again now that Ephraim Brown, 11, has been murdered because he, too, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We get it. Unlike federal Conservative politicians, Bryant, a provincial Liberal, and Miller, a municipal mayor who used to be an NDPer, think a handgun ban will reduce gun crime.
Fine. Point made. Move on. Stop telling us what the feds should do. Tell us what you're doing.
For Miller, this means ending the fear-mongering "apres moi, le deluge" rhetoric he's been indulging in ever since he couldn't get his two pet tax hikes approved by city council.
Stop your temper tantrum, mayor. Start explaining how you will lead us against this scourge, which has left three more people dead from gunfire compared to this time in 2005, the year of Toronto's infamous "summer of the gun."
HYSTERICAL RANTING
Calling for a handgun ban isn't going to make people forget that last week you were talking about cutting the police budget as part of your hysterical ranting about all the terrible things that will happen if we don't do things your way when it comes to raising taxes.
C'mon. Calm down. Focus. The last time we were faced with gang and gun mayhem you and council -- even if you had to be dragged into it -- did the right thing by hiring 250 more cops and redeploying 200 more officers onto our streets.
That added manpower -- and subsequent gang busts -- worked in reducing gun violence. You need to sit down with Police Chief Bill Blair and discuss whether the police have adequate resources to do the job now.
Was last weekend's mayhem a tragic but random blip from the trend showing gun violence has been dropping since 2005, or is this the start of a renewed escalation of gang warfare?
That's what you have to decide. That's what we pay you for. We don't pay you to run around like Chicken Little when you don't get your way.
You control the police budget and the political support the police receive in doing their job. That's your job. Do it. If you need more of our hard-earned tax money for the police budget (or any budget) make your case to us -- rationally.
As for Bryant, stop your pointless calls, in the middle of a provincial election campaign, for a handgun ban. Start dealing with the issues you control, such as providing municipalities with adequate policing.
CABINET PRESSURE?
To your credit, in part, the province did free up some money for this following the summer of the gun.
But how hard have you been fighting since then at the cabinet table to ensure that Toronto and other cities have enough resources to fight this scourge? Have you made it clear to Crowns that plea bargains and easy bail are unacceptable for these crimes? Have you provided them with the resources to be able to make a convincing argument for this before judges?
Finally, if the be-all and end-all for Bryant and Miller on gun crime really is a federal ban on handguns, let them run for a seat in the House of Commons -- not Queen's Park and City Hall.
In other words, put up or shut up.
Residents demand politicians put end to crime |
Sam Galati wants his son and other neighbourhood children to be able to walk the streets of his Lansdowne and Bloor neighbourhood without being exposed to crack, crime and prostitution.
"From Lansdowne to Dufferin along Bloor St. it's been crime-ridden for many years, with a lot of drug-dealing, prostitution, crack addicts, and we're sick and tired of it," said Galati, who is with the Toronto Lansdowne Area Residents' Association, which is urging politicians to clean up the area.
"The different levels of government need to get their act together and start figuring out what needs to be done to turn this situation around."
Galati said heightened police presence and strong support services for drug addicts would help. "School is starting in another month and there are five schools in the area and it's not right that residents are exposed to it and students have to walk through it to get to class," he said.
'MUCH MORE VISIBLE'
"As residents, we're saying that we are no longer willing to accept excuses for government inaction. We are planning to be much more visible in our protest until we see real steps being taken towards a solution."
The association held a march last week and said they were told local Councillor Adam Giambrone would call a meeting to address their issues. But nothing has happened, Jack Fava said.
"Giambrone put it down in his BlackBerry and promised me an emergency meeting in front of everyone and he's not responded to my phone calls and he has not followed through to his word, and we'll remember this the next time he's looking for re-election," Fava said.
Sun Media could not reach Giambrone for comment yesterday.
The association will hold a march on Sunday, beginning at the BMO branch at Bloor and Lansdowne at 4 p.m.
The first alarm bells went off 12 years ago. But they were faint and distant.
In New Jersey, one of the richest states in the U.S., municipal property taxes were rising rapidly. Mayors were complaining bitterly.
Governor Christine Todd Whitman was a year into her aggressive tax-slashing program. Her aim was to cut state income taxes by 30 per cent in her first term of office.
But as the state's taxes went down, local levies went up and municipal politicians faced outrage from hard-pressed ratepayers.
That was the year Mike Harris, the newly elected premier of Ontario, launched his Common Sense Revolution, pledging to chop personal income taxes by 30 per cent.
It took longer for pain to filter down to the municipal level in this country, partly because of differences in the structure of government and partly because Harris and his colleagues undertook a massive reorganization of local services that threw everybody's books into disarray.
When the confusion subsided, city officials realized their costs were galloping ahead of their revenues. They accused Harris of shortchanging them, dipped into their contingency reserves, delayed sewer, water and road maintenance, hiked user fees and cancelled discretionary programs.
It's Sunday afternoon and a semifinal soccer match is dissolving into screaming and shoving. A referee is accosted, a supporter punched, a police officer – who tries to intervene – scratched. Arrests are made and a embarrassed team is withdrawn from the tournament.
Think we're talking about World Cup play? Not even close. These histrionics took place at an "under-8" match for boys in Pickering on the weekend. The referee? A 14-year-old girl.
Now, an irate soccer mom who disagreed with the girl's officiating faces assault charges. Her husband is also charged.
"Incidents like this are very rare and sometime parents get heated or passionate about the game," said Shelly Augustin of the Pickering Soccer Club. "It's an incident and it's unfortunate that it happened but we had people on hand who were able to handle it quickly."
The outburst came during the dying moments of a semifinal match of the kids' tournament, in Diana, Princess of Wales Park near Kingston Rd. and Brock Rd., police said.
Related: 