This recent Toronto city workers strike has tipped me over the edge. We are in the dead heat of summer and festivals (i.e. Pride, Toronto Jazz Festival) are starting soon. Children are also out of school and outdoors enjoying the fresh summer air. The fear of H1N1 has spooked the entire world. Tourism here in Toronto is expected to boom in these upcoming summer months. The last thing that we need at this moment in time is garbage making our sidewalks unsanitary and unpleasent to even walk along. An essential service like garbage disposal should never be compromised because unions aren't willing to make sacrifices during a recession.
A solution? Well as painful of a concept that it is for the political left, a solution to all of this is to PRIVATIZE city services! A great example is in Etobicoke. Although it is technically part of the mega-city, Etobicoke has their trash pick-up services outsourced to an efficient, non-picketing, private entity. Residents of Etobicoke are officially unaffected by such disruptive labour movements. When we privatize, we won't held to our necks by unions with inflated benefits and legacy costs.
The lack of accountability and action by David Miller and his NDP-stacked city council is also appalling. In 2010 we need a new mayor. I certainly hope John Tory throws his hat in the ring. As much as I was against his policies during his leadership as Ontario PC leader, I think he will make an excellent Mayor for our great city. His business know-how is just what Toronto needs.
Monday, June 22, 2009
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2 comments:
I live in a small City in Ontario and ours is privatized and no problems at all!
Here we go again. Privatize because the city fails to give every employee the same contract. Please.
They trialed privatized pick up in East York briefly and it was more expensive with extremely poor service not to mention the vehicles the city uses are narrower so it doesn't block traffic so much. Its not the solution all you conservatives think it is. Basically the wages given to employees are more than halfed and then that savings goes into a private owners pocket. Great idea. Still costs city the same or more and now more people below poverty line.
I see lots of comments but they seem to be all from people who don't even understand the situation. The concessions we are losing are the same as those just given to another union last month. Does that not sound strange?
Etobicoke is unique in that it was privatized before amalgamation. Here's a little known fact though, the city intends to take it over and make it a public service also.
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