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billy corgan19982
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From The Star
How to lose a business friend
Feb. 17, 2006. 08:27 AM
ROYSON JAMES
In most towns, business is king. The local chamber of commerce wields considerable clout.
The mayor does his utmost to coddle businesses and make sure the local employer is extremely happy, lest the company closes its doors and scores of townfolk are put out of work.
But here, where we've lost 100,000 jobs in the last decade and only two office towers have been erected over the same period? Here, we stomp on our business "friends."
City councillors met yesterday to get public feedback on the 2006 budget.
By the budget chief's score card, the 37 people or groups who showed up at city hall can be grouped this way:
Twenty-six wanted to spend more; three wanted to spend less; three had ideas and four "offered support for what we are doing now; and "one we couldn't figure out" what was wanted, said Councillor David Soknacki.
But instead of being pleased with the near-unanimous endorsement, councillors attacked three of the four advocates for business.
They peppered Tasha Kheiriddin of the little-known Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Refreshingly, she fought back.
Raise user fees, raise TTC fares and cut taxes, she told them — an unpalatable brew for Mayor David Miller and his NDP ruling party. In fact, it's unpalatable to the majority of us. But the view should be welcomed, especially when the city is still $212 million short of a balanced budget.
Instead, Miller saved the most virulent attacks for Glen Grunwald and the Toronto Board of Trade. It was the board of trade that launched a letter-writing campaign to Ottawa to seek a new deal for the city. So one would have expected Miller to cut them some slack.
Grunwald presented a 19-page brief on the city budget. Queen's Park should upload the costs of social housing and social services, he said, agreeing with Miller. But council must swallow some bitter pills. For example, adopt and implement more than 800 recommendations from the city auditor. Rethink spending on new programs. Increase user pay by $300 million. And look at privatizing some services.
In total, it was as good a response as one expects from a business lobby.
But Miller lit into Grunwald and challenged the president of the board on detail after detail, belittled his claim of $300 million being available in user fees, and topped it off with this flourish:
"You've now just agreed with about two-thirds to three-quarters of our budget. All your other comments relate to the final quarter. And I hope, I mean the board of trade is a pretty sophisticated organization, I hope that next year you can help us by analyzing that part and offering more helpful suggestions."
Rarely have we seen such a public dressing down. And even after that, Grunwald took the high road, saying he was at a disadvantage because he doesn't know the nitty-gritty of the budget and "the mayor is a smart man."
Not smart enough, though, to know how to treat his friends.
David Fleet, representing the Toronto Office Coalition, a group that wants tax rates for businesses lowered to stem the flow of jobs out of Toronto, was aghast at what happened.
"The board of trade is generally supportive of Miller and the city. If there's any criticism, it's that it's too supportive. Attacking them from the left? I don't understand the politics, the economics and the social conscience of it."
Miller said he was just trying to "clarify the facts."
"Today's presentation really didn't befit the role they have as city-builders."
Well, excuse us.
Members of the public come to city hall to give their views on the budget. They don't have to be learned, cogent, credible or sensible. It's how democracy works. Councillors listen and work to find common ground in their arguments. That's how it's done at city hall.
Unless you are a member of a business group whose message is: get your financial house in order, then go to Queen's Park for help.
The board of trade, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business voiced that message and were treated like skunks at a garden party.
Has this little band of city rulers grown so arrogant after two years in power?
How to lose a business friend
Feb. 17, 2006. 08:27 AM
ROYSON JAMES
In most towns, business is king. The local chamber of commerce wields considerable clout.
The mayor does his utmost to coddle businesses and make sure the local employer is extremely happy, lest the company closes its doors and scores of townfolk are put out of work.
But here, where we've lost 100,000 jobs in the last decade and only two office towers have been erected over the same period? Here, we stomp on our business "friends."
City councillors met yesterday to get public feedback on the 2006 budget.
By the budget chief's score card, the 37 people or groups who showed up at city hall can be grouped this way:
Twenty-six wanted to spend more; three wanted to spend less; three had ideas and four "offered support for what we are doing now; and "one we couldn't figure out" what was wanted, said Councillor David Soknacki.
But instead of being pleased with the near-unanimous endorsement, councillors attacked three of the four advocates for business.
They peppered Tasha Kheiriddin of the little-known Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Refreshingly, she fought back.
Raise user fees, raise TTC fares and cut taxes, she told them — an unpalatable brew for Mayor David Miller and his NDP ruling party. In fact, it's unpalatable to the majority of us. But the view should be welcomed, especially when the city is still $212 million short of a balanced budget.
Instead, Miller saved the most virulent attacks for Glen Grunwald and the Toronto Board of Trade. It was the board of trade that launched a letter-writing campaign to Ottawa to seek a new deal for the city. So one would have expected Miller to cut them some slack.
Grunwald presented a 19-page brief on the city budget. Queen's Park should upload the costs of social housing and social services, he said, agreeing with Miller. But council must swallow some bitter pills. For example, adopt and implement more than 800 recommendations from the city auditor. Rethink spending on new programs. Increase user pay by $300 million. And look at privatizing some services.
In total, it was as good a response as one expects from a business lobby.
But Miller lit into Grunwald and challenged the president of the board on detail after detail, belittled his claim of $300 million being available in user fees, and topped it off with this flourish:
"You've now just agreed with about two-thirds to three-quarters of our budget. All your other comments relate to the final quarter. And I hope, I mean the board of trade is a pretty sophisticated organization, I hope that next year you can help us by analyzing that part and offering more helpful suggestions."
Rarely have we seen such a public dressing down. And even after that, Grunwald took the high road, saying he was at a disadvantage because he doesn't know the nitty-gritty of the budget and "the mayor is a smart man."
Not smart enough, though, to know how to treat his friends.
David Fleet, representing the Toronto Office Coalition, a group that wants tax rates for businesses lowered to stem the flow of jobs out of Toronto, was aghast at what happened.
"The board of trade is generally supportive of Miller and the city. If there's any criticism, it's that it's too supportive. Attacking them from the left? I don't understand the politics, the economics and the social conscience of it."
Miller said he was just trying to "clarify the facts."
"Today's presentation really didn't befit the role they have as city-builders."
Well, excuse us.
Members of the public come to city hall to give their views on the budget. They don't have to be learned, cogent, credible or sensible. It's how democracy works. Councillors listen and work to find common ground in their arguments. That's how it's done at city hall.
Unless you are a member of a business group whose message is: get your financial house in order, then go to Queen's Park for help.
The board of trade, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business voiced that message and were treated like skunks at a garden party.
Has this little band of city rulers grown so arrogant after two years in power?