Toronto Board of Trade hops on the Ford-criticizing bandwagon

On the off-chance that Rob Ford is getting bored with all the criticism from citizens, councillors, the media (most media, at least) and even doctors, you can add one more group to the list: the Toronto Board of Trade, which has a bone to pick over the recent fare hike and proposed tax increase. However, it’s not the bone you might expect. The board is recommending a 15-cent TTC fare hike (instead of the recent 10-cent one) and a three per cent tax increase (up from Ford’s proposed 2.5 per cent increase) to provide the revenue needed to prevent cuts to the TTC, among other things. The BOT doesn’t exactly fit in with the “professional protesters” Ford and co. usually credit with generating the most dissent and criticism—the group is sponsored by RBC, for crying out loud! The board even says it’s “broadly in support” of Ford’s proposed budget. But TTC chair and new reality TV star Karen Stintz says the 15-cent hike would be unfair to those who are “least able to afford it,” which, given some other proposals we’ve seen floated, is a defence that seems confined to the TTC. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »