Council Rumble: How Do We Help?

By Joshua Errett

Michael “Walker City Councilor” Walker
vs.
David “The Broom” Miller
The Issue: How does Toronto respond to the crisis in South Asia?
The Sides: Walker wants to send $1 million to help tsunami victims in South Asia, while The Broom wants to send a team of city emergency workers.
Walker says: “Quite frankly, I thought this was going to be a love-in at council.”
Miller says: “[Toronto’s emergency management offices] has not ever been activated for an emergency outside Canada, but what’s happening in the world today is unprecedented.”
In Walker’s corner: Eglinton-Lawrence Councilor Karen Stintz.
In Miller’s corner: Don Valley East Councilor Shelley Carroll, the Canadian Tamil Congress, and Torontoist.
Analysis: Sending a lot of cheddar is the immediate response, but could we do more? Dave Miller seems to think so. Let’s get over there and get derrty. The money situation seems not as dire as the need for physical help. If our emergency services are ever not in a safe environment, or are not needed, or it simply doesn’t work out, we can always bring them back. Fairplay?
The Showdown: Jan. 13th, at a special meeting of council’s policy and finance committee.
Edge: Miller