Top five mayoral hopefuls face-off in debate
Posted September 23, 2010 4:17 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The top five mayoral candidates squared off in a debate, Wednesday evening, on issues of finance, transportation and managing the city.
How to best rid Toronto of its budget deficit was heavily discussed.
Rob Ford’s solutions included moving public sector jobs – such as garbage pick-up – to the private sector and cutting City Hall’s budget.
“We spend $80,000 to hire someone to water plants at City Hall. This is absolutely ridiculous,” he explained.
However, Rocco Rossi said trimming the budget at City Hall would not be enough.
“One of the solutions is you sell assets to bring down the debt and free up almost $450-million a year.”
That was one idea Sarah Thomson agreed with.
Meantime, George Smitherman said it is not a matter of debt.
“It’s about what level of debt is appropriate and can be managed. I would say the levels of debt that the City of Toronto experiences are manageable for the revenues that the City of Toronto produces annually.”
And the candidates sparred with each other when the issue of good governance came up.
Joe Pantalone said “frankly when you’re electing a mayor of Toronto – you’re electing a team captain – and if you’re team captain has a reputation as foolish George or demolition derby Ford – with all due respect you’re going to have a team captain with a team and you’re not going to be able to do anything.”
Transit was another hot topic.
One of Thomson’s ideas to improve it included building a subway line that connects to Pearson International Airport.
The debate marked the second of three in the Toronto Debates 2010 series, which is a partnership involving the Toronto Board of Trade, United Way Toronto, the Toronto Community Foundation and the Toronto City Summit Alliance.
Media sponsors included 680News and the Toronto Star.
The final debate is scheduled for October.
