Rob Ford promises “hardball” tactics if premier doesn’t pony up $150 million

By John Michael McGrath | March 2, 2011

By John Michael McGrath | 03/02/2011

In an interview this morning with Jerry Agar on Newstalk 1010, Mayor Rob Ford finished off a long interview about the trouble at Toronto Community Housing with some other quick answers, including what he’ll do if Dalton McGuinty says no (again?) to his demand for hundreds of millions of provincial taxpayer dollars. From the interview, which can be heard here: “I haven’t talked to him face to face about that request of $150 million,” said Ford. “And if he says no, obviously there’s a provincial election coming up on October 6th. I want to work with him, not against him. But obviously if he’s not helping out the city, I’m going to have no choice but to work against him. I don’t want to do that.”

Ford added that he wouldn’t hesitate to call out “Ford Nation” to campaign against the Liberals. We’re shocked—shocked!— to discover that a man endorsed by Jim Flaherty and almost endorsed by Tim Hudak might consider campaigning against Dalton McGuinty.

Just two questions: one, didn’t Ford want the province to stay out of Toronto’s election? And two, why shouldn’t the mayor stay out of Ontario’s?

• Mayor Rob Ford responds to TCHC Gravy [Newstalk 1010]

9 thoughts on “Rob Ford promises “hardball” tactics if premier doesn’t pony up $150 million”

Where’s the popcorn?

Seriously, the mayor is such an unbelievable douche.

Yeah Mayor Ford!!! You bet we tax paying voters will be behind you on this one.

McGuinty’s provincial gov’t is allotted way to much money in comparison to the municipal gov’t. That’s why the liberals always spend, spend, spend.
It’s time that the provincial gov’t took on the TTC bill, rather than the municipal level.

Actually Torontolife…

You fail twice here.

First of all, nowhere in that Toronto Sun article you referenced, did Ford ever give a quote for the province to stay out of the race. It states that his spokesperson “criticized McGuinty and the Liberal caucus for jumping into the race but welcomed the message it sends to voters”. What was said to be interpreted as criticism is not known…nor did this come out of Ford’s mouth himself, per se.

Second of all, the Liberals campaigned against Ford first by pushing Smitherman and name-dropping to no end. Ultimately, it didn’t matter because Ford won, but it is quite clear where the provincial government stands on who they would have preferred to be mayor. If Ford wants to get things done, of course he would want to work with a government that had it out for him since day one.

Dalton is digging his own grave here. If you decline Rob Ford and refuse to work with him, you are essentially thumbing your nose at the city of Toronto, and last I checked…it represents a significant portion of ridings that YOU need to stay in power. It’s not Rob Ford against the provincial government, it is the City of Toronto against the provincial government.

Like it or not, Rob Ford represents you and if the Liberals refuse to give money to fund important programs in the city of Toronto, it is us, citizens of Toronto who get screwed in the end. Toronto is the financial hub of Ontario. The taxes we pay, the money the generates because of what this city is…it keeps Ontario strong. You invest in Toronto, you invest in Ontario.

I agree with Ford on this, but where was he when Miller was asking for the same thing. You know Sue Ann Levy of The Sun wouldn’t touch this one.

In the end, it will be Mayor Rob Ford that saves Toronto. The people of this city better get behind this guy and encourage him to continue to clean up the mess Mayor David Miller left behind.

The provincial and federal Liberal party did not sit on the sidelines during the TO mayoralty race. Given the state of Dalton’s approval at this moment, I would expect that the City receives the money in some form or another.

If I’m not mistaken Mr. Ford indicated that the city doesn’t have a revenue problem but a spending problem.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/945862–ford-asks-province-for-more-than-150m

So, why again is the mayor ‘demanding’ 150 million dollars from the provincial government?
Because:
1. It has been identified that the city has/will have an increasing budget gap
2. It was a reasonable idea put forth by other City of Toronto Mayoral candidates to close the gap (ie. Mr. Pantalone)
3. We’re facing a $774 million dollar budget shortfall in 2012.
4. Mr. Ford eliminated vowed to eliminate key revenue for the City such as the Vehicle Registration Tax and 0% increase in property tax. ($60 million)
5. The Ford admin. cleared the City’s $200+ million surplus (taxpayers savings?) to balance the books.

Is it possible that these tactics are attempts to shift public focus, accountability, and responsibility from the most recent financial decisions that have deliberately led us into this financial crisis?