Some megacity councillors archly tell Toronto Free Press that they are voting for or against issues of which they know nothing at regular meetings of council.
They say they get caught up in the passion of the ward councillor who placed the motion on the agenda; that they do not always find time to read and fully comprehend the council agenda. Some councillors even admit they cast votes in favour when lobbied by councillor colleagues strictly on the basis they may need the colleague's vote on upcoming issues in their own wards.
In an information technology age, we are all inundated with paper. Even so, one would hope that municipal councillors take some responsibility in attempting to learn something about the issues up for debate on the council agenda.
Knowledge is essential when one stroke of the pen can begin the slide down the slope of bankruptcy for precious small business.
Toronto Free Press believes that far too many councillors are serving constituencies with virtually no previous experience in the business world. We find that overall, the administration of the new megacity council has been very difficult on Toronto business.
The NovaRes Urbis city newsletter, admired for its accuracy, reports in its July 26 issue that backlogs plague city departments. "If you need a rezoning or official plan amendment in the new City of Toronto, don't hold your breath: they currently take up to 18 months to process.
"If, on the other hand, you require a minor variance, your committee of adjustment application won’t likely be heard until two to three months after it's been filed."
"Why," asks NovaRes Urbis, "at a time when the political and legislative machine at City Hall is breezing through its harmonization agenda with remarkable efficiency, are certain municipal departments grinding to a virtual standstill, overwhelmed and demoralized?
"Last year, the city's municipal workforce was reduced by some 1,200 employees--a downsizing that continues apace. In terms of services, the nuts and bolts of the metropolis that ordinary citizens rely on to operate their businesses or conduct their everyday lives--this means that fewer people have to do more work at a time when the city is experiencing some major structural changes."
Over in the Toronto beach, the high price of conducting business has suffered yet another setback. The same bar and restaurant owners called to appear before Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario hearings where increasing numbers of complaints stemming from zoning and city building inspection are now being heard, are facing new street parking woes.
At the request of the ward councillors, the city's Works and Emergency Services conducted a poll on Waverley Road asking if the permit parking hours should be extended from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week, to 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week.
More than half of the residents who responded agreed with the change and a new bylaw was introduced at city council. At this point, no one is saying how many residents actually responsed, or how it came to be that they were even polled at this time.
"We are pleased to inform you that city council endorsed our proposal and that the change in the permit parking hours will be implemented as soon as possible," Councillors Sandra Bussin and Tom Jakobek reported in a letter to the community.
Most incumbent councillors pander to their residents. Residents far outnumber the business owner come municipal election time. But surely business pay taxes and expect more than token tolerance from any ward councillor.
It seems that some councillors simply do not want business operating in their wards.
Not only would they be more honest, but they would save a lot of business people heartache and taxpayers' money by hanging out the sign: "Business not welcome here."