October 26, 2009 - 9:39 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
CivicScene’s examination into the the potential rewards available at the municipal level in Canada’s three largest cities, as well as the means to access them, begins today with a breakdown of the issue of services being contracted out.
Is this the thinking behind Vancouver's City Hall in-progress transformation?
There seems to be three main targets for the “rewards” of civic government – real estate, community grants and services that are being contracted out.
But with the filth that is emerging in Montreal over multi-million dollar civic contracts, it seems like the most obvious place to start.
Read the rest of this entry »
September 25, 2009 - 12:19 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
The first sentence of this Toronto Star article is hilarious:
“Citing the importance of family life and his record of accomplishments in office, David Miller said this morning that he will not seek re-election as Toronto’s mayor next year.”
David Miller, daydreaming about his failed strike strategy...or was that quality time with the family?
His 29% approval rating in a two-week old Ipsos-Reid poll conducted just after the end of the municipal strike would have nothing to do with it of course.
Smitherman, enter stage centre.
September 17, 2009 - 10:44 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Vancouver has a long tradition as a city of NIMBYism (the not in my backyard syndrome), where developments, light rail proposals and homeless shelters have all at one time felt the wrath of a select group of Vancouver residents who truly believe in the superior pedigree of their respective neighbourhoods.
In fact, some Vancouver residents have elevated this type of attitude to the next level, coining a new term – NIABY (Not In Anyone’s Backyard) – and putting up an entire website devoted to showing opposition to “supportive housing initiatives and community treatments in mental health and addiction.”
Could packs of self-interested Vancouver residents cripple progress in the city with the introduction of wards?
So, in spite of my past support for the introduction of a wards electoral system in Vancouver, a conversation with a friend in town from Toronto yesterday has given me a different perspective, and filled my head with questions of whether this city in particular would benefit from such a change. Read the rest of this entry »
September 10, 2009 - 9:45 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
“I think there is a bit of a consensus forming in the city that the status quo is not getting the job done.” – Ontario Deputy Premier George Smitherman commenting on whether he is considering a run to become the next Mayor of Toronto
