Council considers Queen's Park

[doady]

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Council considers Queen's Park

Joseph Chin
Feb 8, 2007

MPP Carolyn Parrish?

Mississauga's newest City councillor, only a couple of months on the job, is thinking of running in the Oct. 10 provincial election to send a message to Queen's Park that Peel Region has "reached the end of its rope" in its fight over fiscal imbalance.

Parrish is urging all Peel councillors to join her.

"We can register as a party," the Ward 6 City councillor said. "That way we can spend legitimately and distribute pamphlets to every home."

Parrish noted municipal politicians, unlike MPs and MPPs, do not have to resign their seats to run in provincial and federal elections.

If Mayor Hazel McCallion and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell - "even (Ward 11 Councillor) George Carlson in Streetsville" - were to run, said Parrish, they'd cause so much trouble, they could affect the outcome of the election.

"Let's tell John Tory and Dalton McGuinty we're going to run candidates against them. We could tip the balance of power," said Parrish.

Parrish's suggestion sparked lively discussion at yesterday's Regional general committee meeting.

Although she didn't commit to running, McCallion said Peel needs to do something to "get the attention of the public" on the issues of downloading and pooling.

"It has to be catchy. Parrish's idea is a great one," said McCallion.

Ward 8 Councillor Katie Mahoney thought it was "brilliant."

"Trying to engage my community (on those issues) is impossible...people's eyes glaze over. They're only interested in things like stop signs and garbage collection," said Mahoney. "We need to do something outrageous and outlandish."

According to Parrish, Ontario is the only province in which a portion of social costs are borne directly by local taxpayers.

"Thirty-two per cent is funded on our backs," she said. "It's time to put pressure (on the provincial government) and hold their feet to the fire.

"Fixed elections make them sitting targets."

The Province imposed GTA pooling in 1998 to help the City of Toronto fund its social assistance and social housing program as a result of downloading. So far, Peel has paid $550 million, one third of the $1.6 billion paid to Toronto by the 905 Region.

Peel Council decided to limit 2006 payments to the same as 2005 ($59.1 million) and communicated that to Queen's Park.

McCallion said the move could backfire.

"If we don't send them a cheque, they will simply deduct it from our gas tax subsidies," she noted.

Regional councillors, on a motion brought forward by Carlson, voted to allocate funds to mount a pre-election advertising campaign. Specifically, the campaign would target candidates on the question of fiscal imbalance.

"You have to get in their face," said Carlson.

And what happens if Parrish were to win? Well, she won't be quitting municipal politics just yet.

"It's the best level of government I've been on," she said.

You can reach Joseph Chin at jchin@mississauga.net.

I think this is a good idea by Carolyn Parrish to give more power to cities. Note what she says, that Ontario is the only province in Canada where municipalities have to pay part of the costs for social services.

 

[spmarshall]

How long before the Peel party becomes the Mississauga Party when Mississauga does't want anything else to do with subsidizing Brampton or Caledon?

What a pipe dream. Fennell and McCallion are low-key Tories. Fennell was once roumoured to run for the feds, but that's likely not to happen now. Parrish running less than a year in office? What will the good people of Ward 6 think?

 

[unimaginative2]

It's a pretty cute idea.

I agree that it's crazy to fund social services out of the property tax base. Uploading it would be one of the easiest ways to resolve much of the budget problems municipalities have been facing. Of course, it would be a huge hit to the province's own rather tenuous budget situation. Being a little bit practical, what is the benefit for them? It would cost billions, yet it would be a one day news story. Nobody would understand it, and the mayors would likely go back to demanding more money a week later. At least the gas tax is something visible that people can understand.