Rob Ford's Toronto

[gweed123]

Adam Vaughan? Olivia Chow? Shelley Carrol? Please.. The last thing this city needs is another spending-circus a la Miller.

Yup. Because surplus budgets, a good national reputation, and taxing vehicle owners to help pay for transit are such terrible things. Thank you Rob Ford for putting a big dent in the surplus, making a mockery of Toronto on the national and international stage, and starving the TTC of desperately needed funds!

 

[W. K. Lis]

For the next 14 days, or maybe longer if Rob gets a stay, Rob Ford will continue to be mayor. However, will he become just a figurehead mayor, much like the Governor-General of Canada or the Queen of Canada? That is, he is just needed to sign documents or make proclamations made by city council as a whole?

If city council decides to get an interim mayor from either the councillors or outside city council, it should be one who will promise not to run for mayor at that next election. John Tory from outside?

If city council does decide on having a by-election, I would have any councillor running to quit their current council seat first. In other words, an election for mayor and whatever number of counclllors decide to run.

 

[bobbob911]

All I want is a responsible government that doesn't inflate the budget many times over inflation..

What budget are you referring to that was "many times over inflation"? Certainly none of Miller's budgets were.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Of course, it's always someone elses fault.

I believe the delusional Rob & Doug actually believe that too.

What are you referring to? The Toronto Star is a real newspaper, bound by ethical codes, and also a professional organization that requires them not to simply make up news stories.

The Sun on the other hand, deliberately removed themselves from these professional organizations thus allowing them to simply make up the news.

How can you even compare the two?

The Star has had Rob Ford's number from day one ... it's taken years for the Sun to finally realize just how incompetent Rob Ford is.

What of The National Post and Globe & Mail, our respected national news sources - left wing rags like the Toronto Star too? Oh ya, "it's all a conspiracy of the lefties" (Doug Ford)

 

[Gavin]

I know this is a very left wing site but I need to put my rant here about this situation. I'm going to bet that I'll get banned for this, which is fine, as it will go ahead and prove my point about the lefty ruling class.

Do you need a hand getting up on your cross? There's not much more pathetic than making yourself out to be a martyr before you even speak.

Kids, the lesson here is that in Canadian politics, if you are not a member of the elite, Liberal-socialist ruling class, or a member of the clubs, or an alum. of Upper Canada College or St Andrews, Rosedale/Forrest Hill, member of the big boys club, then you have absolutely no chance in Canadian Politics.
Poor Rob Ford, the voice of the common person, the hard working tax payer, never even had a chance in the face of the left wing, socialists, and the Toronto "Red" Star newspaper. Public opinion is against him just because he didn't fit the image that the left created while the Toronto Star, the CBC and other biased media shaped the image of an idiot when he actually did many positive things for Toronto (no strikes, canceled the vehicle fee, contracting out garbage collection, fixed the Jarvis bike lane, added Sherbourne bike lanes and championed a subway expansion)
So now, he loses his job, for something as minor as $3000 for his Football team while others who happen to be Liberal/NDP/Socialist/Left Wing, get away with massive corruption, nepotism, and boondogles (E Health, Natural Gas Plan scandals etc).
I for one am so disappointed in the so called "democracy" in Canada it makes me sick. I would rise up and fight, but how can we when we are wasting soo much time in gridlock traffic and inadequate public transit commuting to a job that underpays in order to pay off the massive mortgage and high cost of living.
The lesson here is that democracy is a sham in Canada, the left have the power and control, and will do what it takes to get their way, even when they lose the elections.
I for one am NEVER GOING TO VOTE AGAIN!! Why should I WASTE my valuable TIME when it's so obvious that it doesn't even matter.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but

 

[js97]

Any snap re-election would be a disaster for democracy in Toronto. There is not enough time to scrutinize and organize for a candidate that doesn't have an immediate 'machine' backing him/her up. If councillors call a snap election, let's be honest, Chow would literally 'steal' it in a heart beat...

Appoint an interm mayor (John Tory) or someone from council, and let's wait until the next election (and hope Ford doesn't run)

 

[js97]

Welfare? What? That article clearly states he has a full time job.

I suggest you avoid such slander. Do you not have any better arguments to put forward, you know, that is based in reality?

Well let's not stretch it out, he works for a union: "Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario, which represents provincial civil servants." They regularly lend out their employees to political causes, including elections and lobbying. So it's not exactly an all consuming position.

 

[Ramako]

To me the most bizarre thing about the reaction to this ruling is the notion that not allowing elected officials to operate above the law is somehow bad for democracy. Where did the idea that democracy is at odds with the rule of law come from?

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

js97:

Are you saying that the court would have ruled differently if the case was moved by say a business person? Besides, just what does it has to do with the merits of the case proper?

And actually Paul Magder isn't the one in that union.

AoD

 

[nfitz]

Any snap re-election would be a disaster for democracy in Toronto.

Snap election? We're months away from an election. The city solicitor addressed council today and commented that Ford has a right to appeal, so a hearing is automatic, that it normally takes months to get a hearing, and that she couldn't imagine them not issuing a stay. Even if after that they decline to hear the appeal, surely we are looking until the New Year for the hearing, and weeks for a decision. So in a quick time-frame, we have a decision not to hear the appeal in mid-February. This gives council 60 days to decide what to do. Say mid-April (though I guess they'll try and move faster). And then a 45-day election with the voting June 1st.

That's plenty of time - and I'd expect that somehow it will get dragged out longer than that.

 

[js97]

What budget are you referring to that was "many times over inflation"? Certainly none of Miller's budgets were.

Well... Miller's budget went from 6 to 9+ Billion over that period... it averaged out to approx 3.5 % compounded... average inflation was less than 2%. So Miller wasn't exactly a fiscally 'responsible' Mayor. And to put that in perspective, 1 points equates to an average of 75 Million, over that period.

 

[js97]

To clarify, I think the judges decision was right on. You have to remember that it is legislation associated with a guilty ruling that threw Ford out of office, not a discretionary judgement.

I don't think anyone should be above the law, and Judicial oversight is absolutely necessary, especially for politicians.

 

[MetroMan]

Actually, it just occurred to me that one of my fears has now gone away. My fear was that Ford would be running for re-election in 2014, just as shiny new streetcars would be running in city streets, work would be well on its way for the Eglinton LRT and starting on the other lines. Despite having been against all this, he'd no doubt get a lot of credit from people looking back at the last 4 years and the improvements that would have come through. The greatest irony would be for Ford to get credit and be re-elected on David Miller's legacy that he himself didn't stick around for.

Next year, some of these improvements are going to become obvious and Ford now will not be around to take credit. I think there's also going to be a very clear contrast between the messy last 2 years and the a probably more compromising City Council and interim mayor of the next 2.

 

[gweed123]

Any snap re-election would be a disaster for democracy in Toronto. There is not enough time to scrutinize and organize for a candidate that doesn't have an immediate 'machine' backing him/her up. If councillors call a snap election, let's be honest, Chow would literally 'steal' it in a heart beat...

Appoint an interm mayor (John Tory) or someone from council, and let's wait until the next election (and hope Ford doesn't run)

I don't think Council has the authority to appoint someone who is not currently on Council.

I personally favour the Interim Mayor from Council option, although I want that person chosen by council at large. I don't think that it should automatically go to Holyday, just because he was chosen by Ford. Holyday was elected by his ward, same as every other person on council (aside from the Mayor).

 

[bobbob911]

Well... Miller's budget went from 6 to 9+ Billion over that period... it averaged out to approx 3.5 % compounded... average inflation was less than 2%. So Miller wasn't exactly a fiscally 'responsible' Mayor. And to put that in perspective, 1 points equates to an average of 75 Million, over that period.

Yes, more or less accurate (I would argue inflation was closer to 2.5% avg but whatever). The point is that 3.5% is not "many times over" 2%, its less than two times.

Was Miller "fiscally responsible"? Tough to say. If you inherit an underfunded city and you have to grow revenues by more than inflation to get back on track (ie after Lastman's repeated tax-freeze years which were fiscally 'irresponsible'), then that's what you have to do. Its worth repeating over and over - Our property taxes are lower than all of our neighbors in 905. IMO it would be "fiscally responsible" to not pretend we don't have the same expenses that they do, and therefore should not complain about paying equivalent rates.

All of that is simply my opinion - but it is fact that no Miller budget increased tax rates by many times the rate of inflation.