“Toronto – Canada’s version of a Democrat run city”

Imagine the confusion.

Toronto’s most labour friendly mayor in recent memory and still — a major strike that would have paralyzed this city. Or, as Mayor Chow put it, wrought “huge, huge economic damage.”

Sometimes in politics, success rides not on the platforms you pronounce or the policies you deliver, but on the bullets you dodge. And a TTC strike would be about as destructive a bullet for Mayor Chow to duck as can be conceived. Because while the political confusion and upheaval that would have followed is challenging to predict, the wrath of Torontonians would not be.

Chow had better be a one term mayor or Toronto is toast.

Two centuries ago, Toronto’s leaders set aside a parcel of land in its growing west end for the enjoyment of the public. It became Clarence Square, a classic Victorian park with handsome residences on its flanks.

They would be astonished to see it now. For one thing, the little patch of green is surrounded by an ever-rising forest of high-rise towers in glass and steel. For another, the square itself is an unsightly mess. A graveled dog park occupies one side, a homeless encampment another. The fountain at its heart is broken and encased in plywood hoardings. The lawn is full of weeds.

Because our ever rising taxes go to support bloated union wages and (insert deviant progressive cause of your choosing here).

Olivia Chow is on a mission to keep Toronto’s financial district alive.

Since the fall, the mayor has been meeting with the CEOs of some of Canada’s largest banks — CIBC, TD, RBC and BMO — to discuss, among other issues, how to get Torontonians back in the office at least four days a week, if not five — and they’re calling on her to set the example.

“Well, it’s important to make sure our financial district is vibrant,” Chow told the Star in an interview. She said she is concerned about Toronto becoming “a ghost town” like other cities in the U.S. grappling with so-called “doom loops” that have seen an uptick in local crime and homelessness. “That’s not healthy.”

“Gardiner commute times have increased 250% sure boss I’ll head back to the office” said no one ever.

… Trips now take up to 250% longer during morning rush hour than before the construction. Afternoon rush hour is taking 230% longer. Commercial drivers are spending 80% more time on the roads. And travel times are up 43% on the main parallel routes.

These numbers are staggering, but sadly not surprising.

I don’t go downtown anymore. City Hall wins.

While the two sides in the TTC contract talks are still at the bargaining table, the president of ATU Local 113 is not optimistic a deal can be reached before the looming Friday strike deadline.

“We’re still bargaining but we have an impasse regarding job security and wages and benefits,” Marvin Alfred said Wednesday morning.

About half of GTA residents say they would consider leaving to buy property in one of Canada’s more affordable cities, according to a new Royal LePage survey.

The online poll, which surveyed 900 Canadians aged 18 and older living in the country’s three largest urban centres, found that about 50 per cent of respondents would consider buying a property in one of Canada’s most affordable cities “if they were able to find a job or work remotely.”

Among renters, about 60 per cent said they would be willing to relocate while only about 45 per cent of current homeowners said they would consider it.

Really, Toronto? Is this the best that you can do?

After months of agonizing traffic paralysis, and untold millions wasted (literally untold, due to secrecy and Toronto’s incompetent system of awarding contracts –only contracting bosses get rich in Toronto), city council finally asks staff to take a month or two to see whether it can speed the work up to save the city from strangling itself.

This should kill off the downtown and let’s face it that is the goal.

Some have suggested that the Gardner debacle will give a boost to TTC ridership.

No. I will simply avoid Downtown Toronto rather than ride the Homeless Junkie Choo-Choo.