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Nov. 6, 2003. 01:00 AM
Editorial: David Miller best to lead Toronto
Toronto's next mayor will likely be regarded, years from now, in one of two ways — either as a saviour, who pulled this city back from disaster's brink, or the failure who presided over its ruin. Seldom have stakes been so high; and seldom have a mayor's challenges been so great.
The city is short more than $200 million this year, and that's just to maintain existing services. The urban fabric is frayed and faded. Toronto the Good has become a city where commuters step over the homeless; where some parks are choked with litter and the waterfront is still an embarrassment; where confidence in City Hall is sapped by corruption; where transit is in crisis, and century-old sewers are in utter disrepair.
It will take an exceptional mayor to fix Toronto's problems. The successful candidate must be a model of ethical behaviour — someone who will restore trust in the city's scandal-wracked administration. Also, the mayor must be a sound business manager who can crunch a budget and find efficiencies overlooked by others.
Toronto needs a skilled diplomat who can rally support and build alliances, within city council and beyond — among urban leaders across the country. Together they can pursue a "new deal" for cities benefitting every major community in Canada.
Toronto needs a compassionate leader, who genuinely understands the plight of the poor and who is willing to protect society's most vulnerable.
And, importantly, Toronto needs a dreamer, a visionary, who will inspire a jaded public with new hope and confidence in the city's future.
Fortunately, at this crucial time, there are two strong candidates who have many of those qualities — David Miller and John Tory.
Others in the race don't come close. Tom Jakobek shouldn't be running at all after lying about attending an MFP Financial Services junket. John Nunziata revealed himself as unworthy through his botched allegations of bribery and a troubling plan to sweep the homeless from the streets.
Barbara Hall is a hard-working, intelligent, well-intentioned candidate who has competently served Toronto in the past. But her qualifications for mayor suit another time. Our need for leadership is desperate, and Hall's faltering performance in this election shows she lacks the energy, focus, and — above all — the vision to revitalize this city. With her skills, she might yet play a leading role outside City Hall in reviving Toronto.
Both Miller and Tory have strengths and weaknesses. Both have some good policies, and bad. Each would be a fine mayor for the city.
But the Star believes Miller is best suited, overall, to do the job.
Both Miller and Tory have spoken out on behalf of the poor. And Tory distinguished himself as campaign chair of the United Way. But his promise to impose heavy fines on panhandlers in the downtown core seems harsh and unworkable. Miller has shown the ethical leadership necessary to restore confidence in City Hall. He was one of the key figures on council seeking an inquiry into the scandalous MFP computer leasing contract.
Tory also has a reputation for integrity but his acceptance of an endorsement from Toronto's police union is extremely troubling. Police officers must remain neutral and are forbidden, by law, from being involved in politics. Yet the headstrong Toronto Police Association formally endorsed Tory. He should have taken an ethical stand and loudly said: "No thanks." Instead, he embraced the union's tainted support.
Tory has vowed to hire 400 police officers, for $40 million, although crime rates, for most offences, are falling. Miller rightly says we'd be better off with more programs for young people than costly crackdowns.
Tory's potential shines brightest in his role as a corporate manager. He is one of Canada's top executives and has provided the most detailed response to Toronto's fiscal crisis, including a plan to have some unionized city workers compete with the private sector for municipal jobs. That approach risks triggering an all-out labour war — one that couldn't come at a worse time given the crisis facing Toronto.
Miller, by contrast, seems too close to City Hall's powerful unions. Surrendering to labour's demands would be no better than open warfare. Needed is a mayor who can bend, cajole and inspire city workers, demanding sacrifice when necessary and providing rewards only when warranted. Miller is best suited for that role. As a city councillor, he showed he can bring together people with divergent views and reach a compromise.
Those diplomatic skills could be well applied in forging a common front with other mayors toward a new deal for cities. This newspaper has been a driving force in demanding more money for cities and in demanding that cities be at the table when upper governments set programs.
Miller understands that to make Toronto great again it will take more than grants. It will take a new approach — a holistic, innovative outlook that recognizes the need to put Toronto's economic house in order while building coalitions with surrounding 905 communities, with cities throughout Ontario, and with mayors across Canada.
In short, Miller "gets it" when it comes to our cities.
As Jane Jacobs, the noted urban guru, has remarked, Miller has a complete plan for Toronto's revival. And while we strongly believe Miller is wrong to oppose a much-needed bridge to the Toronto Island Airport, and we hope the new city council will thwart his efforts to stop construction, his overall thrust is what's required for the city at this time.
On policies, there are several ways that Miller is ahead of Tory.
Miller has a detailed and realistic plan to expand public transit. As a TTC commissioner, he helped lay the groundwork for a transit program that has been accepted by the other major candidates. He favours adding 100 new buses and designating certain road lanes for buses only.
On homelessness, Miller will create an office of Rapid Housing Development. He strives to shelter the homeless, not lock them up.
On management, Miller promises to track the efficiency of public employees by comparing their performance against "benchmarks," based on work done by similar staff in other cities and the private sector.
Leadership and integrity are what ultimately matter — accompanied by a vision of this city's immense potential, and a road map for achieving it. That's why Miller is our choice.
More than any other candidate, David Miller offers the best chance at rallying Toronto behind a great cause — its own revival.
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Legal Notice:- Copyright 1996-2003. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form.
Nov. 6, 2003. 01:00 AM
Editorial: David Miller best to lead Toronto
Toronto's next mayor will likely be regarded, years from now, in one of two ways — either as a saviour, who pulled this city back from disaster's brink, or the failure who presided over its ruin. Seldom have stakes been so high; and seldom have a mayor's challenges been so great.
The city is short more than $200 million this year, and that's just to maintain existing services. The urban fabric is frayed and faded. Toronto the Good has become a city where commuters step over the homeless; where some parks are choked with litter and the waterfront is still an embarrassment; where confidence in City Hall is sapped by corruption; where transit is in crisis, and century-old sewers are in utter disrepair.
It will take an exceptional mayor to fix Toronto's problems. The successful candidate must be a model of ethical behaviour — someone who will restore trust in the city's scandal-wracked administration. Also, the mayor must be a sound business manager who can crunch a budget and find efficiencies overlooked by others.
Toronto needs a skilled diplomat who can rally support and build alliances, within city council and beyond — among urban leaders across the country. Together they can pursue a "new deal" for cities benefitting every major community in Canada.
Toronto needs a compassionate leader, who genuinely understands the plight of the poor and who is willing to protect society's most vulnerable.
And, importantly, Toronto needs a dreamer, a visionary, who will inspire a jaded public with new hope and confidence in the city's future.
Fortunately, at this crucial time, there are two strong candidates who have many of those qualities — David Miller and John Tory.
Others in the race don't come close. Tom Jakobek shouldn't be running at all after lying about attending an MFP Financial Services junket. John Nunziata revealed himself as unworthy through his botched allegations of bribery and a troubling plan to sweep the homeless from the streets.
Barbara Hall is a hard-working, intelligent, well-intentioned candidate who has competently served Toronto in the past. But her qualifications for mayor suit another time. Our need for leadership is desperate, and Hall's faltering performance in this election shows she lacks the energy, focus, and — above all — the vision to revitalize this city. With her skills, she might yet play a leading role outside City Hall in reviving Toronto.
Both Miller and Tory have strengths and weaknesses. Both have some good policies, and bad. Each would be a fine mayor for the city.
But the Star believes Miller is best suited, overall, to do the job.
Both Miller and Tory have spoken out on behalf of the poor. And Tory distinguished himself as campaign chair of the United Way. But his promise to impose heavy fines on panhandlers in the downtown core seems harsh and unworkable. Miller has shown the ethical leadership necessary to restore confidence in City Hall. He was one of the key figures on council seeking an inquiry into the scandalous MFP computer leasing contract.
Tory also has a reputation for integrity but his acceptance of an endorsement from Toronto's police union is extremely troubling. Police officers must remain neutral and are forbidden, by law, from being involved in politics. Yet the headstrong Toronto Police Association formally endorsed Tory. He should have taken an ethical stand and loudly said: "No thanks." Instead, he embraced the union's tainted support.
Tory has vowed to hire 400 police officers, for $40 million, although crime rates, for most offences, are falling. Miller rightly says we'd be better off with more programs for young people than costly crackdowns.
Tory's potential shines brightest in his role as a corporate manager. He is one of Canada's top executives and has provided the most detailed response to Toronto's fiscal crisis, including a plan to have some unionized city workers compete with the private sector for municipal jobs. That approach risks triggering an all-out labour war — one that couldn't come at a worse time given the crisis facing Toronto.
Miller, by contrast, seems too close to City Hall's powerful unions. Surrendering to labour's demands would be no better than open warfare. Needed is a mayor who can bend, cajole and inspire city workers, demanding sacrifice when necessary and providing rewards only when warranted. Miller is best suited for that role. As a city councillor, he showed he can bring together people with divergent views and reach a compromise.
Those diplomatic skills could be well applied in forging a common front with other mayors toward a new deal for cities. This newspaper has been a driving force in demanding more money for cities and in demanding that cities be at the table when upper governments set programs.
Miller understands that to make Toronto great again it will take more than grants. It will take a new approach — a holistic, innovative outlook that recognizes the need to put Toronto's economic house in order while building coalitions with surrounding 905 communities, with cities throughout Ontario, and with mayors across Canada.
In short, Miller "gets it" when it comes to our cities.
As Jane Jacobs, the noted urban guru, has remarked, Miller has a complete plan for Toronto's revival. And while we strongly believe Miller is wrong to oppose a much-needed bridge to the Toronto Island Airport, and we hope the new city council will thwart his efforts to stop construction, his overall thrust is what's required for the city at this time.
On policies, there are several ways that Miller is ahead of Tory.
Miller has a detailed and realistic plan to expand public transit. As a TTC commissioner, he helped lay the groundwork for a transit program that has been accepted by the other major candidates. He favours adding 100 new buses and designating certain road lanes for buses only.
On homelessness, Miller will create an office of Rapid Housing Development. He strives to shelter the homeless, not lock them up.
On management, Miller promises to track the efficiency of public employees by comparing their performance against "benchmarks," based on work done by similar staff in other cities and the private sector.
Leadership and integrity are what ultimately matter — accompanied by a vision of this city's immense potential, and a road map for achieving it. That's why Miller is our choice.
More than any other candidate, David Miller offers the best chance at rallying Toronto behind a great cause — its own revival.
› Get 50% off home delivery of the Toronto Star.
FAQs| Site Map| Privacy Policy| Webmaster| Subscribe| My Subscription
Home| GTA| Business| Waymoresports| A&E| Life
Legal Notice:- Copyright 1996-2003. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form.