Continuing The Discussion

Evelyn,
The same argurment could be made for the province to take the responsibility of municipal governments. Perhaps this is already happening? Not long ago, we had municipal funding of education. Before that we used to vote for representatives to sit on PUCs or Hyrdo boards.

Fuimus

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Let's talk about that.

We still have municipal funding for education. We still elect trustees. Do they still have the same level of authority to make decisions? I don't think so.

Here's my take on the overall situation. Not based on research, mind. Just on casual observation.

When the City and Boroughs were amalgamated, market value assessment finally had to be applied; thirty years after everybody else in the Province.

Shock and horror could be expected from wealthy denizens of the megalopolis, as had been experienced everywhere else years before.

So the power brokers made a deal.They arranged with the Regions,they would take over future increases in cost for education. In turn, Regions would hand over money to cover Toronto's Social Services. The power elite in Toronto would not notice the impact of phased-in market value assessment and the plan would pass smoothly under the radar.

Except of course if the people in the boonies, now expected to hand over millions annually got wind of it. Chances were, if Regional representatives didn't talk too much,the press wouldn't notice. The sleeping giant would slumber peacefully.

I remember Toronto's easy dismissal of concerns. They said; Regions were the reason for Toronto's high social service costs.I don't remember regions pointing out the obvious. To be eligible for social assistance in a municipality, one must have an address within the municipality.

That Toronto has high social costs for people who come from elsewhere is undeniable. That they can't keep up with the demand for hospital beds is equally true.They have more social housing than anyone else. And more crime.

As long as people in the boonies weren't paying attention, unfairness was not a factor in the plan. Billions of dollars were filched out of the pockets of regional residents before it came to an end. When it did, we noticed little difference in our tax bill.The region just ate it up I guess.

They probably hired more police officers.Not too many though. You don't get many extra shifts for $75 million.

Aurora/Newmarket will be hiring twenty additional firefighters in 2011. It was decided when the two departments were joined. On the basis of predicted growth.

Theoretically, additional revenues from growth should allow the cost of the additional manpower to be gradually absorbed. Financial planning would have been wise. That didn't happen.

The agreement is ten years old. The joint committee, of which I have been a member, learned about the commitment to new manpower last year.

Twenty firefighters can't be trained all at once. Hiring will be phased

When I joined the joint committee four years ago,there was no signed contract. There isn't one now. Firefighting is an esssential service. Association members have no right to strike. The Parties are subject to binding arbitration.

When we had our own police department, an arbitrator once awarded the police more money than they asked for.