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.
