 |
Rob Ford talks lockout, subway funding and McDonalds . . . just not to us
 |
Toronto Star
As you might have heard, Rob Ford does not speak to the Toronto Star. Our request for a year-end interview with the mayor went unanswered.
If we had been granted a sit-down, we would have asked Ford about the big whatifs heading into 2012: Is Ford prepared to lock out the city workers union? Is the Sheppard subway dead as there is apparently no way to fund it? Does he regret saying that much-quoted sound bite “No service cuts, guaranteed” now that cuts appear inevitable?
Luckily for us, our colleagues in the City Hall press gallery have had the same questions. Here’s a “Best of Rob Ford’s Year-end Interviews”:
From the National Post:
Q: Would you promise “No service cuts, guaranteed” again if you were running for mayor? If an election campaign started tomorrow?
A: I’d say we’d run on the same platform. We’d say we’re going to find efficiencies, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve been finding a different way of delivering service. . . . So obviously the next campaign I can’t tell you what our platform is going to be, it’s going to be different than this platform was, but I couldn’t really answer that question now. But I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll be watching taxpayers’ money and I’ll be delivering the services the best possible way.
Q: Let’s talk about the Sheppard subway a bit. Gordon Chong (the man tasked with coming up with a business plan for the subway) came out and said he doesn’t think the private sector is likely to cough up much more than 10 to 30 per cent of the ($4.2 billion construction) cost. . . . Where is the money coming from? The 70 to 90 per cent of the money he says isn’t there?
A: Well, the feds have already come to the table with $333 million they’ve committed to. The province obviously said we’re going to get the leftover from Eglinton, I’ve still got to sit down with Mr. McGuinty and find out if the province is willing to give us more. The private sector, there’s a lot of people who have expressed interest in developing along the Sheppard subway.
Q: But those numbers you’re mentioning don’t add to anything like $4.2 billion. Are you worried?
A: I’m not worried at all. The plan will be shown to council this year, and I’m very confident we can get a shovel in the ground this year (he means 2012), worst case scenario next year (2013).
From The Globe and Mail
Q: Union leader Mark Ferguson has pledged there will be no strike in January. Can the city pledge there will be no lockout?
A: I can’t get into the details of what we’ve been negotiating. That would be bargaining in bad faith. All I know is that we’re at the table. I believe it’s very fair what we’ve offered them.
Q. You get home much for dinner?
A. Oh, no, no, no. Tim Hortons and McDonald’s have become like best friends.
From Citytv
Q: Five cent plastic bag fee. Your reaction to that?
A: I want to get rid of it. I never campaigned on it, but a lot of people have called me and said, “You know, it’s served its purpose. It’s brought people to recycle. Time to get rid of this 5 cent bag tax.” So I’m going to bring it forward probably I’d say in spring or summer, right after we deal with labour.
From CBC
Q: Given the (2011 property tax) freeze and the nominal (2.4 per cent) increase (planned for 2012), would you ever consider a 3 or 4 or 5 per cent tax increase just to protect some of the cuts that are on the table?
A: No. . . . This year unfortunately I have to raise taxes and it really bothers me that I have to. 2.5 per cent. Again it’s the lowest tax increase in all of Ontario. It’s lower than the rate of inflation. To average that out over two years it’s 1.25 per cent.
Q: Given what you’ve said though, don’t you have some wiggle room to go a per cent or two higher?
A: No. No we don’t. I’m not going to sit here and increase taxes on the backs of taxpayers. People are sick and tired of what they’ve seen in the last 10 years at City Hall.
438 page views
|
|
|
|