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Yes, it is now official. The new city council has moved in, and meetings begin this week. It has been three weeks since the municipal elections, and those who won have been preparing ever since. I wish for each and every member the best of success, and hope that the council uses their heads and their hearts to guide our city towards success.
Over the next four years, there will be a lot of public discussion about money. Both the federal and provincial governments have elections during that time frame, and money will be allocated to appease the voters. Billions of dollars are at play, and focus will be given where the people ask for it to be given. While there will always be more demand than supply, there is still potential to make great headway over the next four years.
In the moments after his election was confirmed, David Miller announced a claim for a portion of provincial and federal taxes. By doing so, Mr. Miller has publicly stated that he will stand up for the rights of the city, in opposition to higher levels of government. The real opportunity to make this happen lies in cooperative arrangements with the mayor of other cities. Now is the time for the numerous mayors in the Greater Toronto region to get together.
By presenting a common front, the alliance would represent about six million people. This alliance would account for half the voters in Ontario and almost 20% of the Canadian population. The taxes paid by the people in the Greater Toronto Region exceed $100 billion annually, with each of the federal and provincial governments benefiting in excess of $40 billion. While of course some of this comes back to GTA citizens directly through government programs, there is still a lot of money floating around.
The key element of the alliance would be to reach agreement on how to allocate money within the regions. When a group cannot come to agreement, it is to the advantage of outside forces. When a group works together, much more can be accomplished. Extreme advantage could be gained developing global plans for transit, social housing, business development, and many other aspects of city management. If Toronto is to flourish, all five regions must flourish together.
Of course, each mayor was elected to take care of the people within their territory. However, if everyone just cares for his or her own turf, the entire region will suffer. There are issues that will be better resolved if all regions are included in the discussion, and it will be necessary for some areas to forego individual gain for the benefit of all. While it may not be easy, forming an alliance of mayors could be the first step towards improving the entire Greater Toronto Region.
© Copyright 2006 Glenn Stewart Coles
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