Toronto to Ontario: Cough It Up Or Else…!
July 16, 2007 · By Matthew
Well isn’t this great? After two weeks of intensive efforts to protest the July 16 vote on implementing Toronto’s new tax powers, Hogtown’s councilors voted to suspend the tough work of either hiking taxes or cutting programs until after the next provincial election in Ontario, hoping that “a new regime will be more willing” to dole out the cash for their notoriously wasteful system.
Let me translate this situation for everyone though:
Toronto, having begged and received taxation powers from the Government of Ontario a year ago, is now refraining from using those powers because the people of Toronto don’t want to pay that much tax.
Instead, Toronto will try to blackmail every provincial leader in the fast-approaching election this fall to dish out oodles of cash to Canada’s most wasteful municipal government so that Torontonians still receive the same level of service from their city, but the cost is generously shared by the rest of the tax paying masses in Ontario, who get…what exactly?
And just in case everyone else in Canada is smirking, let us not forget that Toronto also likes to fleece the feds as well when election time comes a callin’ in Ottawa. We all pay for Toronto, and we all pay for its mistakes! The only difference now is that Toronto has new taxation powers through which it can blackmail two levels of governments which are concerned about 23 precious ridings!
Which mistakes are you talking about?
Would that the provincial parties had the moral strength required to tell Toronto City Council that hell will freeze over before they respond to those who abdicate their responsibilities.
One hopes, of course, that the Government in Ottawa - there are few real hopes for the CPC in Toronto - gives them the Trudeauvian Salmon Arm digit as well.
The inability of Toronto City Council to get their act together, and just expect the taxpayer to cough it up, is one of the reasons why I left that city. Not that the idiots who have a majority on the Vancouver City Council are much better, of course, but at least they do make decisions and set limits on the grab from time to time.
Hi Bob,
There are numerous examples that Sue Ann Levy of the Toronto Sun has reported on over the years, from the city spending the equivalent of $32,000/year on each homeless person every year or the third TTC line debacle (I used to frequently visit Toronto so I know the area quite well and personally think that last one takes the cake!). Aside from that though, one of yesterday’s opponents to the next taxes pointed out the Toronto council just gave all city staff free passes and access to things like the Toronto Zoo. Then there are the mainstays like Kyle Rae’s pet programmes that seem to cost millions each year but help no one.
Toronto isn’t unique in having wasteful politicians or poorly managed government. However, it is unique in feeling entitled to external money from the province/feds because it is “special” and has “unique difficulties”; that’s what this new tax power change to the CoT Act was supposed to solve, wasn’t it? Hope this helps.
I appreciate your perspective Matthew and totally agree with the entitlement aspect.
“Aside from that though, one of yesterday’s opponents to the next taxes pointed out the Toronto council just gave all city staff free passes and access to things like the Toronto Zoo.”
City staff shouldn’t get perks from their employer?
“However, it is unique in feeling entitled to external money from the province/feds because it is “special†and has “unique difficultiesâ€
This feeling is not at all unique to Toronto. Cities such as Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montréal make similar arguments. Provinces and Territories also take these positions with the federal government on a variety of fronts (e.g. transfer payments, resource revenue, etc.).
Matthew
If Ontario paid its outstanding bill for downloading provincial services, all $500 million of it, Toronto would still have a hole in its budget because we have socialists running the show, buying bankrupt theatres etc. BUT at least then at least it would only be a question of expenses which are properly the muncipality’s. If McGuinty pays his bills and stops Sorbara from building his subway vanity line into Vaughan, Torontonians won’t have to worry about excessive tax increases.
“City staff shouldn’t get perks from their employer?”
This decision was just made months ago and applies across the board. Was there some reason why the city *had to* sweeten an already sweet benefits programme it offers its employees, especially given the fiscal crunch that Toronto is in?
And no Ryan, you’re quite right; a lot of big cities feel that they have a divine right to special treatment.
Mark, you brought up an important argument that I should also address: downloading happened a decade ago. Some cities have already overcome it quite handily and aren’t demanding more money from the provinces. That aside, the philosophy behind downloading services to the municipal level is that individual cities were better able to address the needs of their community. If Toronto feels so cash-strapped to provide all the services it is now in charge of, it should do what it is mandated to do and raise property taxes. That way, if people don’t feel they are getting value for these services, they will simply elect councilors who feel that the services need to be downsized. It’s really time though that we get beyond the argument that the province has a debt to Ontario’s cities; as I said earlier, it’s been 10 years and we’ve had three different Premiers in that time.
” Was there some reason why the city *had to* sweeten an already sweet benefits programme it offers its employees, especially given the fiscal crunch that Toronto is in?”
Yes, cause people work harder when their employer treats them well. Why do you think RIM rents out arenas and holds concerts for their employees?
Yes but RIM is currently profitable and isn’t forcefully asking others for more money to pay for these benefits. Again, Toronto staff already get more than enough benefits. If the staff don’t feel enough motivation to do an honest day’s work, then maybe they should find another employer.