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City of Toronto Act introduced.... Hold on to your wallets!!
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| Jayx1 |
Considering that the province used to be one of the only balancing entities against looney city council ideas, this completely worries me. We are about to pay a hell of a lot more taxes and have the government control our lives even more. You can bet that when some whiney bitch complains about clubs in the entertainment district they will be forced to close at 1am for example
| quote: | How will things change once the Toronto Act takes centre stage?
Here’s what the city contends are some examples of our potential before and after.
BAR EXAM
Before
Only the province has the power to set bar hours.
After
The city gets the flexibility it needs to decide when the pubs should close, whether sooner or later.
STORE OPENINGS
Before
Shades of Sunday shopping! The city has little say in when stores can open on holidays or what their hours can be. Currently, the province decides.
After
The Act gives Toronto the authority to decide about holiday openings in order to “create a level playing field for all shopping districts.”
There are currently only a few designated tourist areas that are allowed to open on stats – including part of the Yonge St. strip, Harbourfront and Vaughan Mills in Thornhill.
The city will now get to say if it’s open season for all or if the status quo stays in place, along with who gets exempted and why.
TAXING PROPOSITIONS
Before
Here’s the one that worries many: raising taxes. Right now, the city pretty much lives or dies on property taxes and handouts from the province and the feds.
After
The city’s website claims the Act gives it more ‘flexibility’ to raise revenues in addition to property taxes.
But residents aren’t sure exactly what that means. We could potentially be paying more for anything from alcoholic drinks to hotel rooms, as Toronto ponders ways to refresh its always bottoming out bottom lines.
FUTURE EXPANSION
Before
The city is limited on the kind of economic development opportunities it can undertake.
After
The Act allows the city to make the kinds of decisions it needs to make Toronto more competitive.
REGULATION INFORMATION
Before
Toronto has only limited powers when it comes to regulating businesses that operate in the city.
After
The city has more say in how certain industries are regulated and licensed.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Before
Right now, Toronto can’t do much when it comes to policing itself or a creating a lobbyist registry to see who's trying to gain influence at City Hall.
After
The Act requires Toronto to set up an integrity commissioner’s post, to prevent future MFP scandals.
A lobbyist registry, an ombudsman post and an auditor general will also be created.
A NEW LOOK
Before
Toronto has little control over the design, shape and appearance of its own buildings.
After
Council will be able to determine the look and feel of its own cityscape, and can oversee architectural detail and building design.
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
Before
Toronto has almost no control over the environmental qualities and properties of its buildings.
After
The Act allows the encouragement of “certain exterior environmental features” and requires green roofs. |
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| infinity HiGH |
| i dont like that bar exam thing :( |
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| malek |
| I don't know, this seems very good actually, the city gets to control what matters the most to its intrests... but if dicks are in power, then its another story. |
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| nusty |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
I don't know, this seems very good actually, the city gets to control what matters the most to its intrests... but if dicks are in power, then its another story. |
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| daves |
| okay so is this bad because we dont want the municipal level to have powers... or is this bad because we dont trust what Miller will do with the powers...? |
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| Ortemy |
| Problem is that dicks are in power most of the time. |
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| MarkT |
hopefully people will care more about municipal-level politics and elections now...traditionally, IMHO, most people only care about federal and provincial.
I'm in favour of the city having more direct control over itself...but there does need to be some checks and balances in place. |
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| Fir3start3r |
While it makes more sense for the Municipalities to have control of their own ridings, I'm more worried about not have checks and balances against the decisions they may make.
A Municipal watchdog will definately be born... |
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| TO guy |
| Cities need to have a lot of power, I think they know what their needs are more than a provincial or federal body, but we don't want to go way back to the city/states. |
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| zokissima |
| This seems designed to give the city more power in being self sufficient, self regulating. it's great for boosting the image of the city, great for tourism, great for everyone except those of us who live here, as we'll be the ones backing the costs for someone else to reap the benefits. |
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| Cosmic Fur |
| So with the Toronto Act Toronto will be more like its very own province? I suggest going one step farther and making Toronto its own country inside Canada. Look how well it's working out for Monaco and the Vatican. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/story/to_act20051214.html
Province to hand Toronto new powers
Last updated Dec 14 2005 12:33 PM EST
CBC News
The Ontario government will introduce legislation Wednesday to broaden the powers of Toronto's municipal government.
The city will assume authority from the province in such matters as stop-sign placement and setting hours for bars and stores under provisions contained in the City of Toronto Act.
It will be able to negotiate directly with Ottawa on issues such as funding for resettling of immigrants.
Toronto will also gain the power to levy special sales taxes on tobacco, alcohol and entertainment.
However, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Toronto would not get the ability to impose a wider-ranging sales tax or income tax.
McGuinty added that the city would only get the new powers if it changes its governing structure to give the mayor more authority.
If city councillors don't implement that structure, the premier said it would be imposed on them by Queen's Park.
Mayor David Miller was in an optimistic mood about Wednesday's announcement at a morning news conference.
"This act contains significant additional tools [for the city]," Miller said.
"Will there be further discussions? Of course, but I can't underestimate the importance of this act." |
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Yet another Lieberal-created dictatorship!
Comrade Miller is now firmly in charge. Why do you think he campaigned with Martin and Michael Bryant - the Lieberal AG of Ontario?
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