(A message from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council)
The summer of 2010 has already served up more than the usual share of drama and excitement. Most people haven’t focused yet on the upcoming municipal elections, but the jockeying for position is already taking place. Is there a surprise in the level of support for Rob Ford’s simplistic tax cuts message? We know it goes beyond hard-core conservatives to include some union members and residents who feel alienated from City Hall. But we also know what happens when that kind of right-wing populism prevails - the devastation and turmoil of the Mike Harris years were ample proof.
If it is clear what we don’t want, why aren’t more people raising their voices about the kind of city we do want? Has the relentless griping from pundits and wannabe mayors left us with selective amnesia about our past efforts to build a livable city? The Labour Council has been a very strong advocate for the kinds of policies needed for an incredibly complex city. There are no shortcuts or simple answers. This is, after all, Canada’s largest urban centre, an economic powerhouse with the most diverse population in the world. To read more go to http://www.labourcouncil.ca/.