Toronto Is The Tail That Wags The Dog

Evelyn:

How does this relate to Aurora, or does it?

I would really like to keep Tronna political news out of our town.

Does due diligence occur any more or is it simply a catch-all when everything else fails?


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I write here about our town's business and whatever I feel relates to  it. When I read the Toronto Star story about the  City Clerk of Toronto removing a Councillor from office, I immediately connected.

The municipal  election in Toronto was hard fought. Provincial Liberals ran a candidate for Mayor  with  attributes, they felt would be ideal as a partner  to work  with in the City of Toronto.

Who  exerts   most power in Ontario? Toronto or the Province? That has  been question in Ontario for years.

In the recent municipal election it seemed obvious if Liberals  had one of their own in charge things would be simpler for them.

But  despite  all their effort and support or perhaps because of it, their  plans ran agley.

A most unlikely candidate  was elected. Considering the  recent sweep of seats to  federal hybrid Conservatives  in Toronto with  support from  the red-neck, true blue, conservative Mayor of Toronto. whose popular support continues to grow, Provincial Liberals have good cause for concern.

If they were to stop calculating strategy at the shallow end and start attending to what is happening  at the deep end ,in the lives of people, they might have a chance.

On the other hand, the NDP is likely to look like a reasonable alternative after their showing in the federal election. But be that notwithstanding, Provincial Conservatives will  likely get the support of the "Ford Nation" in Toronto.

If  Conservatives, under  current leadership, take the Province in October, it most certainly will have an effect on our town. It was they who stuck  the GTA  with  Toronto's social services at a cost of $75 million a year share  with no audible objection from York  Region.

Funds are still being siphoned off at $13 million this year.

My questioner, despite  a lack of interest,  asks , does "due diligence" occur any more or is it simply a catch-all phrase?

A question more to the point might be; does an election matter any more?  When the electorate makes a decision , is the  decision no longer sacrosanct.

In Aurora, we had four years of   a particular Councillor  being marginalised. A  takeover of the town's administration . One Councillor  quit early to be replaced by someone favourable to the Mayor, two more  Councillors were eventually ostracized, as well as an almost complete turnover in staff and a takeover of the administration.

The question of ethics  or principles became little more than a passing sneer and  relegated to the distant past.

What happened in Aurora was unthinkable until  it happened.

It  became real because of a block of votes in the majority.

As the Toronto Star tells the story, the City Clerk's decision to  remove an elected Councillor from office,  to the exceeding pleasure of the Mayor's office,whom the Clerk  did not consult though she did communicate  and  which  has avowed  its might behind  election of a different  Councillor to add to  his majority  does indeed have a connection to Aurora's affairs.

The true- blue red-necked Tory Mayor of the City of Toronto will not just control the City for four years. He will control the Province of Ontario of which  we in Aurora, are but the creatures. 

If it was O.K., without rhyme or reason, ethics or principles, to make home and business owners of Aurora pay for Toronto's social services, to keep Toronto's  property taxes at a fraction of our own, what else might  they do?

If the Clerk of a municipality has authority to pick and choose who will hold office  and who can be tossed, at the pleasure of the Mayor,  what exactly is the point of an election here, there or anywhere?

Without a single shot being fired, our rights are surrendered to the obsequious