Canadian dollar almost at parity with US, will pass it soon

[Wezil]

Mayor Miller in Toronto is pissed. Again.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil


Mayor Miller in Toronto is pissed. Again.

Why? Did he want a couple of Billions allocated to the centre of the universe?

[Flubber]

I don't know if the harper Conservatives can win an election majority but they are doing the smart things these days IMHO. By governing and doing only the things they want to do that also happen to be popular ( at least in a sound bite kind of way), they force the opposition to either

1. vote against tax cuts (that WILL be the line next election against the NDP and bloc)

2. Support the government somewhat while saying that they don't-- I can imagine the electioneering next time out saying that Dion lacked the backbone to stand up for his beliefs--

All I know is that Harper can use the apparent Liberal disinclination to go to the polls to get a good few things passed

and every day he is the PM and not "looking scary" or doing stupid stuff ( I am so glad the gay marriage debate appears to be over) is probably good for him


My only dislike for this minority is my fear that if something happened where the right call for the government and I mean clearly the correct call, is unpopular and difficult to explain to voters . .. will this government stand up and do the right thing?

The did on income trusts . . ( the wrong thing that time was making the wrongheaded promise NOT to correct the problem). I just don't know that right now they would want to give the Liberals a catalyst for an election

[Wezil]

Toronto is in a desperate financial position. Miller and his NDP cronies on council have been a disaster for the city (surprise, surprise) and they are currently anywhere from $200-500 million short on next years budget. This is not new, the City has been running in the red for years and always got by by raiding capital accounts and "rainy day" funds. Those wells have run dry.

For the last couple years Miller has been ragging at the province and the Feds to give him more money. He was behind the "1 cent of GST to Cities" campaign you may or may not have heard of (Miller spent a ton of money on a billboard/ad campaign to inform Torontonians of this blatant blackmail attempt btw). Needless to say, when the Premier looks at the way TO is run he has no desire to throw more money at the rathole w/o some sort of independent audit. Miller of course cannot/will not agree to this. Harper just ignores him.

Anyway, yesterday Harper cut the GST by a cent rather than give any to bail out Miller.

[Asher]

The one HUGE annoying thing about Toronto is everything is everyone else's fault.

Toronto misspends money and won't pass new taxes --> in debt. Clearly, the province is at fault...nevermind the other cities coping.

Yesterday there was a shooting in the club district. Whose fault is that? Ottawa, clearly.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil
Toronto is in a desperate financial position. Miller and his NDP cronies on council have been a disaster for the city (surprise, surprise) and they are currently anywhere from $200-500 million short on next years budget. This is not new, the City has been running in the red for years and always got by by raiding capital accounts and "rainy day" funds. Those wells have run dry.

For the last couple years Miller has been ragging at the province and the Feds to give him more money. He was behind the "1 cent of GST to Cities" campaign you may or may not have heard of (Miller spent a ton of money on a billboard/ad campaign to inform Torontonians of this blatant blackmail attempt btw). Needless to say, when the Premier looks at the way TO is run he has no desire to throw more money at the rathole w/o some sort of independent audit. Miller of course cannot/will not agree to this. Harper just ignores him.

Anyway, yesterday Harper cut the GST by a cent rather than give any to bail out Miller.

Thanks - Here the cities went hard at the province for extra dough-- a Calgary/ Edmonton tag team . . They just got the province to cough up a long term commitment for beaucoup de dough which they immediately earmarked here for some long term capital projects ( including light rail transit to my neighborhood-- It will take a while but I am delighted).

The mayors have not really gone that hard at Harper perhaps because the Conservatives are pretty much seen as the only federal option out here. Also premier Stelmach did not impress in the early going so the mayors knew he could be subject to pressure

Again its a good soundbite for a mayor to blame the premier for the traffic and roads and schools

[Wezil]

The soundbite only plays in Toronto. The rest of the province is snickering with shadenfraude(sp?). At the end of the day the soundbite won't pay the budget. They have already talked about mothballing a subway line they just spent billions to open a few short years ago. It is quite insane.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil
The soundbite only plays in Toronto. The rest of the province is snickering with shadenfraude(sp?). At the end of the day the soundbite won't pay the budget. They have already talked about mothballing a subway line they just spent billions to open a few short years ago. It is quite insane.

I meant the soundbite played well here since the mayors are seen as being reasonably prudent fiscally while a new and somewhat embattled premier was sitting on yet another large budgetary surplus. The people wanted roads and schools and trains NOW

[Kontiki]

Actually, I don't think Miller has been a disaster for Toronto. I'd put his performance as pretty middling, really. You can lay the blame for the Sheppard subway line debacle at Lastman's feet, and that was stupid beyond all comprehension. And there are huge burdens on the city from the downloading of services that disproportionally affect Toronto compared to other places in the province. Having said that, there are certainly any number of things Toronto could do better.

[Asher]

The very day they threatened to shut down the subway due to funding, they spent $12M on some ****ty theatre rescue project...

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Flubber


I meant the soundbite played well here since the mayors are seen as being reasonably prudent fiscally while a new and somewhat embattled premier was sitting on yet another large budgetary surplus. The people wanted roads and schools and trains NOW

Yeah I know you meant in AB. Miller has used the soundbite here (his electorate buys it) but our Premier was not so embattled as yours. There is even rumour of a quid pro quo between Miller and McGuinty. The Premier passed the City of Toronto Act last year which granted the city taxing powers. In return we heard not a peep from Miller during the recent election (despite this being the obvious time to make a ruckus...).

[Kontiki]

I think you mean $1.2 million, but yeah, still not the best use of funds.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Kontiki
Actually, I don't think Miller has been a disaster for Toronto. I'd put his performance as pretty middling, really. You can lay the blame for the Sheppard subway line debacle at Lastman's feet, and that was stupid beyond all comprehension. And there are huge burdens on the city from the downloading of services that disproportionally affect Toronto compared to other places in the province. Having said that, there are certainly any number of things Toronto could do better.

I disagree about Miller. We can on about why if you would like (Fair wage policy, pet environmental projects, raises to council, etc).

Sheppard was not the brightest idea but mothballing it would be even more dumb.

Yes, dl'ing hit TO differently than others but I contend that the problem was exacerbated by the council elected by the voters in TO. You got what you deserved which is why the rest of us are having a hard time feeling sorry for the city.

There are a number of things TO can do better. You know it. I know it and Miller knows it. There is a reason he is adamantly against an independent audit.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kontiki
I think you mean $1.2 million, but yeah, still not the best use of funds.

I had read $12M...

[Krill]

So...is Miller like some sort of Ken Livingstone?