news
Newsstand: June 6, 2012
Another day, another dollar. Although if you only spend a dollar today, consider yourself lucky. Just something to think about. In the news: the mayor talks economic growth; TTC employees get a salary bump; sports-field fees back on the table; Pride funding may be delayed; and Tory's not rolling the dice on an Ontario Place casino.
In a 25-minute speech to the Economic Club of Canada on Tuesday, Mayor Rob Ford laid out his plan for economic growth, including a commitment to lower commercial property tax rates, though warning that homeowners will probably see a property tax hike in 2013 of at least 1.75 per cent. Mayor Ford says he is focused on encouraging more businesses to set up shop in Toronto, and on increasing job numbers in the city. However, it doesn’t seem that he is focused on creating jobs at the City, as Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), suggests that the mayor has been “gutting” the planning department, leaving the City short 60 city planners.
The Toronto Transit Commission’s unionized workers are getting a raise. Over the next three years, TTC employees will receive a bump of 2 per cent per year, which means a 6 per cent raise overall. All workers will also be protected against layoffs in the event that the TTC jobs are contracted out. Mayor Ford’s response was, “It’s a little rich, but it’s not too bad,” to which we respond, perhaps you should talk to your deputy mayor—maybe he can put this in perspective for you.
The City’s eyes are back on the contentious sports-field fees for children and youth, as a new report recommends charging between $2 and $6 per hour in 2013 for use of fields. This is roughly half the price recommended in a shelved proposal that caused an uproar among the city’s minor sports leagues. With the fee comes some promises from the City, including an improvement in the conditions of the fields, developing a new policy for rain-outs, and developing a new system to classify fields.
It seems quite likely that some city councillors may try to delay Pride funding until after this year’s events. The City’s $124,000 grant may be subject to certain conditions related to activist group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid’s participation, and discussions about this will likely start at a council meeting being held today.
Looks like John Tory will be sitting out this hand. The chair of the province’s advisory panel on Ontario Place’s revitalization announced at a town hall meeting Tuesday night that he doesn’t think Ontario Place’s future should include a casino. While he didn’t provide specifics of what Ontario Place’s future should include, Tory will submit ideas for revitalization to the province by Labour Day.