The Toronto Doughnut Hole!

Just viewed the electoral map of Toronto following the Oct 25 election...

It seems to me that downtown Toronto is like a doughnut hole surrounded by the rest of the doughnut.

It also seems that perhaps the two are irreconcilable.

Those in the doughnut hole voted for George Smitherman...a downtown kind of guy.
Those on the doughnut voted for Ford...an Etobicoke kind of guy...that also sells in North York and Scarborough.

Perhaps that reflects what is going on with the Toronto Mega-City...a city that has yet to grow into its clothes...that instead is a handful of entities unwillingly joined back in 1998.
There is one city on paper but in reality it is still many cities - many communities that perhaps would be happier on their own.

The premise by Premier Harris in 1997 when he rammed Bill 103 through (in spite of referendums that were overwhelmingly against amalgamation) was that money would be save through efficiencies. This has been proven to be a fallacy - costs have increased!

So if it doesn't save taxpayers money...maybe it shouldn't continue. Maybe Rob Ford should start with this waste of money? Somehow I doubt he will.

It's unfortunate this did not come up during the election - it could have been a good discussion.

Election Recap in Ontario - a few surprises!

What a night in Ontario! Lot's of surprises.

Toronto buys a FORD - George Smitherman's  downtown base was overpowered by Etobicoke.

Vaughan goes to Bevilacqua  -  Jackson is done.

Oshawa  - surprise of the night -  John Henry foils both Parkes and Gray to claim the Mayor's chair. John Henry by all accounts (except his own) was running a strong third....but apparently he was right and everyone else was wrong. (including me!)

Oakville's Rob Burton  - There is little doubt that the cancellation of the power plant during the campaign gave Burton a lift. It seems he has vanquished Mulvale once and for all.

Mississauga's Hurricane wipes out Parrish - Hazel's vote drops to 76%. Hazel is the big winner tonight...chalking up two key wins in Ward 1 (Jim Tovey) and Ward 6 (Ron Starr). Parrish announced her retirement and indicated she will not seek the Mayor's chair in 4 years. We will see.

Mississauga Councillors - I predicted a tight race in Ward 1 (Tovey vs Corbassin) and that's just what happened with Tovey edging out a shocked Corbassin by 120 votes. In Ward 6 (Starr vs. Parrish), Starr crushed Parrish by over 2000 votes, no doubt assisted by the Mayor's endorsement, delivered via voice mail to Ward 6 residents on Sunday evening. In Ward 10 (Mendes vs. McFadden), McFadden was able to hold onto her council seat despite a strong challenge from Patrick Mendes. If I were McFadden I would tread very carefully, after all you did compare the Mayor to a dictator! 

All in all quite a night. Great to see some new faces and old ones challenged. Democracy in action!

Predictions...

A few predictions for Election Day...a few high profile races and some less so....

Toronto Mayor - George Smitherman will take it. I think it will be very close but the GS team will get out the vote for the squeeker win.

Vaughan Mayor - Maurizio Bevilacqua will win...voters are too confused over Jackson's tumultuous term in office.

Oshawa Mayor - John Gray will hold on...Louise Parkes bid will be foiled by John Henry, who will capture enough "reform Oshawa" votes to deny Parkes.

Oakville Mayor - Rob Burton, in spite of his  "low profile" campaign may just eek out a win. Anne Mulvale has run a brilliant campaign and if not for the cancellation of the power plant announcement would be the winner here. This may be the closest race in the GTA.

Mississauga Mayor - Hazel will win, no surprise here. Will her campaign to replace the Group of Seven be successful? There is no doubt her percentage of support will slip...I'm guessing from 92% to the low 80's...some may call that a slap on the wrist...a message if you will - But I think anyone running for Mayor anywhere would be happy to receive 80% of the vote!

Mississauga Councillors - I predict very tight races in Ward 1 (Tovey vs Corbassin), Ward 6 (Starr vs. Parrish) and Ward 10 (Mendes vs. McFadden). McFadden's recent slip up (calling the Mayor a dictator) may be her undoing. There were a lot of negative campaign pieces distributed this weekend...we'll see if they succeed in doing any damage.

A few other races that should be interesting....

• Caledon Mayor
• Brampton Mayor
• Oshawa's 54 person ballot for their at-large election

Make sure you get out and vote!

Royson James...shoddy journalism from a pretender.

Royson James article  Mississauga needs watchdog ‘group of seven’ is a poorly researched piece of crap!
His one-sided portrayal of Mississauga is way off base and representative of a TORONTO journalist who doesn't get off his ass to research his articles.
Many in Mississauga may agree that Hazel is due to retire. However,  many will not agree with his assessment of Carolyn Parrish.
Perhaps he is new to the country? Or was sleeping the last 10 years?
How else do you account for his lack of knowledge about the recklessness and raw ambition of Carolyn Parrish, the wanna-be mayor. Parrish, the anti-American, Bush stomping, vitriolic, conniving Jeckl & Hyde who will certainly be running for Mayor in four years - who controls Council now as if she was the Mayor.
When Royson commented on bootlickers I was sure he was referring to Sue McFadden who reports to Ms. Parrish for her direction and daily dose of invective! McFadden recently made the headlines in the Star for her reference to Hitler as a definition for the word dictator...which she called Hazel McCallion. But James ignores that serious slight and offensive remark in his holier than thou thirst for Hazel's defeat.
What a surprise to see Pat Mullin's name on his list of bootlickers....Mullin who has fought a very visible fight for the residents in Clarkson to stop a power plant.
Well Royson...a word of advice...do a little research into the communities and politics you pretend to know...cause those who read your crap will realize...you are just a pretender.

Election Predictions?

Coming soon...a few election predictions for some of the closest races in the upcoming Ontario Municipal elections...
This is going to be quite a week in Ontario as voters get bombarded with voice messages and literature in the last frantic attempt for candidates to get their message out.
This will be a week filled with "noise" as the campaigns try every tactic in the book to reach voters and secure MORE VOTES.
Hold onto your hats...This one could get interesting.

Mississauga Inquiry and the Group of Seven

Everyone should be accountable for their actions...

The Mayor of Mississauga should be...and so should Mississauga's now infamous Group of Seven.

So when will Carolyn Parrish and her Group of Seven be accountable and apologize to Mississauga taxpayers for the $7 Million spent on the Inquiry?

There is a cost for democracy. Most people would agree.

What the taxpayers will have trouble with is the fact that the Group of Seven sold this inquiry to the public with an estimated cost of $2.5 million.

By mid summer the cost went to $5 million. 

Last week they added an additional $2 million.

So now the total sits at $7 million.

If this was a city contract and the contractor overspent by 180% heads would roll! 

These same Councillors would fire the contractor!

The only two explanations I can come up with are:

1) The Group of Seven are the perhaps the worst budget forecasters in Mississauga. If so, they are clearly not competent to sit as Councillors nor should they be involved in the city budget process
or

2) The Group of Seven led by Parrish perhaps low-balled the estimate in order to sell the inquiry. Once the motion passed there was no oversight...so they let the cost skyrocket in their zeal to go after the Mayor.

Either way the Group of Seven owe Mississauga taxpayers an apology...and Mississauga taxpayers should demand it!

Can't you just hear Michael Moore now...standing in front of City Hall...

Hello...its a Mississauga Taxpayer here...AND I WANT OUR MONEY BACK!