Ford boasts support on cuts
rene johnston/torstar news service
Mayor Rob Ford attends the meeting reviewing core services at city hall yesterday. Belt-tightening measures brought on by the mayor were being debated.
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After a summer of talking about service cuts, city council is finally set to decide on a course of action. A special meeting of council dealing with the core-service review began yesterday morning.
The most controversial proposals — slashing windrow clearing, subsidized daycare spaces, community grants and late-night TTC buses — were canned at the executive committee level, but it was still a full day of heated debate.
Mayor Rob Ford opened with a token Fordian speech: City hall has a spending problem; councillors must act to solve Toronto’s financial crisis; and this is what people asked for when they elected him.
“Taxpayers of this city — overwhelming, wherever I go, as of yesterday, as of last night (and on) Saturday — they have told me, I’m talking 90 per cent ... ‘Rob, stay the course.’”
Here are some of the other highlights of the meeting:
News of the day:
Coun. Paula Fletcher said she plans to put a motion on the floor of council, asking the province to change the laws and allow Toronto to de-amalgamate. She didn’t say when she’ll make her move, though.
Ford said he loves Etobicoke and he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea, provided there is no financial consequence.
The dancing deficit:
Opposition councillors argued they were being asked to endorse cuts without having all the financial information needed to do so.
Staff have been secretive about the exact sums associated with each proposed cut. As well, the mayor and city staff have continued to say that Toronto faces a $774-million deficit.
Last week, city manager Joe Pennachetti put the number closer to $500 million. Then, yesterday, he seemed to backtrack, stating the number is still $774 million. This dancing bottom line had many councillors suspicious.
Too many on the payroll:
In a comment that will no doubt reignite layoff fears, the mayor said, unprompted, that he believes there are 7,000 too many employees working for the City of Toronto.
About 700 will be granted a voluntary severance package. Earlier this year, the Toronto Star learned the administration was hoping to reduce the workforce by at least 3,000.
The most controversial proposals — slashing windrow clearing, subsidized daycare spaces, community grants and late-night TTC buses — were canned at the executive committee level, but it was still a full day of heated debate.
Mayor Rob Ford opened with a token Fordian speech: City hall has a spending problem; councillors must act to solve Toronto’s financial crisis; and this is what people asked for when they elected him.
“Taxpayers of this city — overwhelming, wherever I go, as of yesterday, as of last night (and on) Saturday — they have told me, I’m talking 90 per cent ... ‘Rob, stay the course.’”
Here are some of the other highlights of the meeting:
News of the day:
Coun. Paula Fletcher said she plans to put a motion on the floor of council, asking the province to change the laws and allow Toronto to de-amalgamate. She didn’t say when she’ll make her move, though.
Ford said he loves Etobicoke and he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea, provided there is no financial consequence.
The dancing deficit:
Opposition councillors argued they were being asked to endorse cuts without having all the financial information needed to do so.
Staff have been secretive about the exact sums associated with each proposed cut. As well, the mayor and city staff have continued to say that Toronto faces a $774-million deficit.
Last week, city manager Joe Pennachetti put the number closer to $500 million. Then, yesterday, he seemed to backtrack, stating the number is still $774 million. This dancing bottom line had many councillors suspicious.
Too many on the payroll:
In a comment that will no doubt reignite layoff fears, the mayor said, unprompted, that he believes there are 7,000 too many employees working for the City of Toronto.
About 700 will be granted a voluntary severance package. Earlier this year, the Toronto Star learned the administration was hoping to reduce the workforce by at least 3,000.
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