Globe: What's wrong with Toronto? Nothing a good mayor couldn't fix

[Tewder]

Raised by others, but you don't address them and ignore the questions posed to you.

I see no need to respond to redundent questions when the points have already been made . So, aside from baiting me you have yet to make a convincing case as to why you think Miller is a 'great' mayor....and we're talking 'great' here, not necessarily bad or even adequate...

 

[MisterF]

It is being brought in because Miller failed to convince the province to pick up the cost of social services that should be supported by the provincial government.

GST? Thank the feds for that

So when the city doesn't get what it wants it's Miller's fault... but when it does get what it wants Miller can't take credit? Seems like quite the double standard - Miller can't win no matter what he does!

 

[syn]

Miller could not take action. He is a mayor and as such could not enact any such legislation. So you are wrong there.

So?

He's the one who worked with the Ontario Government to get the deal done. Do you really think another government would've granted these powers otherwise?

As for action, the land transfer tax is bad action. It is being brought in because Miller failed to convince the province to pick up the cost of social services that should be supported by the provincial government. Miller's response is to take his new powers and institute in new taxes. Nothing particularly creative there - and worse - it does not address the actual problem anymore.

I don't think it's a good thing, but Miller does have limited options.

When I made by original post, there was no design panel. It remains to be seen as to how useful it will be.

The actual implementation of the design panel was nothing more than a formality at the time you posted that comment.

And just because SOME planters are in better condition does not automatically indicate it is just because of the mayor.

I didn't say it was just because of the Mayor.

Concerning the arts: Nuit Blanche is a good idea that has been mounted in other cities. And during Luminato is was hard to find Miller. Again, can you prove these are directly instigated by Miller, or did other people actually motivate Miller into whatever role he actually played?

Can we prove any politician directly instigates anything? I find this argument kind of ridiculous. Miller has been a very vocal supporter of the arts. He missed Luminato because he was at a conference dedicated to getting more funding from the Federal Government.

Of course, had he missed this I'm sure everyone would be complaining he missed an important meeting for a shameless photo-op.

GST? Thank the feds for that. There is nothing that states they must share it. Besides, it is hardly due to the efforts of Miller alone. Singling him out as some hero is highly innacurate.

I didn't say it was because of his efforts alone, but he did take a leadership role. In your previous post you said we couldn't really thank him for any of these arts initiatives because we don't know if he's the one who really instigated them...yet here we have examples of things he did instigate and push forward (GST, Toronto Act) yet you seem unwilling to give him much (if any) credit. Interesting double standard.

As for the waterfront, are you going to bother giving any credit to the Waterfront Redevelopment Corporation or other governmental organizations that have played a role in getting these projects underway?

I don't see how giving Miller credit means I'm not giving other organizations credit. The discussion is about the Mayor. Yes, I give those organizations credit as well, but Miller deserves his due. He has promised to have all new Waterfront parks implemented by the time he's up for re-election...I guess we'll see...


I'd have to agree with MisterF here. You're not very consistent. If something goes wrong, it's Miller's responsibility (even if he doesn't have the final say). If something goes right, it wasn't because of Miller because the final decision wasn't his to make. Any politician in a position of power relies on many people to implement change. None of them every just do things by themselves. I have no idea why Miller is being held to this almost impossible standard.

I think Miller has a lot of room for improvement, but he's done some good things too. I saw his first term as one for laying a groundwork, and now I'd like to see more concrete results in this term.

Credit where credit is due.

 

[Hydrogen]

syn,

Let's see, my local MP pushed for handing over a portion of the GST to cities. He got to vote on it as well. It was around the period when a whole boatload of mayors were pushing for a portion of the GST. So I see groups of people motivating an initiative, not just one person.

I don't think it's a good thing, but Miller does have limited options.

Some of which are bad options.

The actual implementation of the design panel was nothing more than a formality at the time you posted that comment.

And whether this design panel is valuable or even useful remains to be seen. One can only hope that it is both.

Can we prove any politician directly instigates anything? I find this argument kind of ridiculous. Miller has been a very vocal supporter of the arts.

Actually, we can prove when a politician instigates something (or does not do so). There is nothing ridiculous about that. I'm not doubting that Miller is a vocal supporter of the arts. I am saying he is getting undo credit for many arts intiatives. Vocal, after all means talk, and not action. Besides that, the GST and the Toronto Act don't have anything directly to do with arts initiatives, so there is no double standard being invoked.

I don't see how giving Miller credit means I'm not giving other organizations credit. The discussion is about the Mayor. Yes, I give those organizations credit as well, but Miller deserves his due. He has promised to have all new Waterfront parks implemented by the time he's up for re-election...I guess we'll see...

Yeah, I'm sure we can give him credit for promising to do something later on - for whatever that's worth right now.

I think Miller could improve a lot...

Me too.

You may have skipped the part where I indicate that when one speaks to Miller he strikes one as an intelligent and interested person. That's based on personal experience. I think he has the potential to be a very good mayor, but my opinion is that his performance up until now has been underwhelming in many instances.

 

[lordmandeep]

he could leave his socialist moronic union friends, he would likely have a better chance of getting more funding form the other govts. The extra cash he needs is to pay for the huge wage increases he gave to all city workers.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Uh huh, and it's going to cost the city less, no doubt, if he stood the line and the matter had to go before arbitartion?

AoD

 

[Hydrogen]

he could leave his socialist moronic union friends, he would likely have a better chance of getting more funding form the other govts.

How so?

 

[JasonParis]

he could leave his socialist moronic union friends, he would likely have a better chance of getting more funding form the other govts. The extra cash he needs is to pay for the huge wage increases he gave to all city workers.

Indeed, how so? All comparable cities have a unionized workforce, so clearly Toronto's problems go beyond the fact that our workers are unionized.

 

[Junglab]

And lest we forget...
When Mayor Lastman actually DID try and stand up to the unions, even going so far as to hold firm during a garbage strike in the middle of summer, the province sent the matter to arbitration.... where they essentially imposed on the city the totality of the union's demands.
AND... since most public service contracts follow established precedent, this one set the stage for other re-negotiations immediately following.

 

[b13]

I would like to say that I applaud vTO for what he is trying to do! Please pm me so we can talk. Toronto needs to stand up for itself. We also say that all Toronto does is take whatever the federal or provincial governments give to us. It's time we get what we want and DESERVE! The 10 Billions of dollars that leave Toronto and don't come back should stay in Toronto.

 

[JasonParis]

We are generous bunch who are more than willing to help support underperforming parts of the country and province. It's a principle that goes back to the founding of this country. If this region should ever falter (yah right), I'd expect the same in return from the performing areas. So no, I don't think all $10B should come back to us. However, 5% of that would eliminate the 2008 budget gap. 10% of that would give us some decent transit expansion every year. 15% of that and we'd have affordable housing for most. 20% of that and we'd be laughing. That's still $8 billion for senior governments too!