Toronto Star

Council’s hubris behind staff exodus

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Re Self-inflicted wounds are hurting our city, Hume, Feb 20 It beggars the imaginatio­n that, time after time, the mayor and councillor­s can simply ignore in-house expertise paid for by the citizens of Toronto. Worse, city council can use a back-slapping vote to delay full disclosure of the cost of such hubris until after this year’s election. How odious. No wonder senior civil servants are queuing at the exit.

If it would help to lift all boats and resolve community, infrastruc­ture and transit woes, I would be amenable to increased property taxes. The problem is, the same crew may be in charge. And it seems pointless to read lengthy comments by an auditor, years after gobsmackin­g amounts of money have circled the bowl.

Perhaps citizens who have raised and educated to the postgradua­te level at least two children on an average household income could volunteer to serve on a committee that reviews and comments, well in advance and publicly, on large city expenditur­es. No benefit should accrue to this input — no per diem, no free trips, no meals, no expense account, no public accolades, etc. — just the satisfacti­on of having tried to educate themselves, city council and the public about vigilance over the public purse. Loretta Lundy, Toronto TTC CEO Andy Byford. Chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat. City manager Peter Wallace. Deputy city manager Rob Rossini. Deputy city manager John Livey. With all the bold-face names and titles on Chris Hume’s list of senior civil servants who have departed under Mayor John Tory, one important name was forgotten.

Former deputy police chief Peter Sloly was respected, learned, proactive and supremely qualified to be chief, but Mark Saunders was instead chosen by Tory and the police board.

Sloly’s retirement soon after was a major loss for policing and Toronto’s public service. It’s not a stretch to say Mr. Sloly would make a great mayor. I’d certainly vote for him. Jean-Pierre Boutros, former senior adviser to the TTC chair, Toronto

 ?? THEO MOUDAKIS/TORONTO STAR ??
THEO MOUDAKIS/TORONTO STAR

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