Happy Birthday to Rob Ford the embattled Mayor of Toronto who won an election based on a campaign to fight to save taxpayers money. He hasn’t been the pretty ballerina but could improve his image by losing a few pounds for his own health. Unfortunately  due to the stress he has endured until now  I can understand how difficult the battle of the bulge can be under these circumstances. Regardless, the Man has lived up to his promises and put the taxpayers first.  Contracting out the garbage contracts has reaped a cash windfall for the City. Unfortunately, for those Councilors who did not want to be held accountable they scurried away like squirrels to nibble on their stash of cash reserves over the years and now enjoy their rich pensions which of course the taxpayers are on the hook for. I am not saying some didn’t deserve their rewards but others took full advantage of benefiting on the taxpayers dime. The biggest challenge in the City of Toronto has been the investment in Public Transportation. When the Mayor took power, Karen Stintz, a supporter was the lead chair of the TTC. She quickly changed her allegiance as the battle between Subways and Streetcars (LRT’s) quickly became a point of contention. Metrolinks was established by the Province to oversee the integration of an intertwined transportation system connecting urban areas within the Golden Horse Shoe. With McGinty unable to take the heat over the mismanagement and relocation of Gas Plants, the new Premier, Kathleen Wynne, elected by her party but not the public, quickly was preaching for new revenue tools to fund the ‘Big Dig’. Cityhall rejected these taxes because they did not want to give the Province the ammunition to endorse taxes without going to the polls. For this we should all be respectful of a job well done by Council. With the issue of Transportation and the money involved it wouldn’t surprise me at all, if the Power behind the scenes has incorporated a campaign to discredit the individuals opposed to the potential robbing of the Public Purse. Going to the taxpayer is always the easiest alternative for the lazy politicians who can’t think outside the box. If Ford keeps up his promises, in my opinion he can smoke whatever he wants!

Sincerely, -Philip Magnoli, my friends call me Don Filippo-The FX Specialist- www.donfilippo.ca