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Entries Tagged as 'Opinion'

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Scale of badness (Mar. 2023)

April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL CARTOON: Scale of badness (Mar. 2023)

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

EDITORIAL: Ford’s budget is a fail (Mar. 2023)

April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford’s budget is a fail (Mar. 2023)

The province is enjoying a windfall from sales tax on the inflated prices of goods and services. Notwithstanding a legacy of debt, which provincial governments of all stripes have contributed to, this government here and now is swimming in cash. One might have expected a budget with more punch, a budget that makes a difference for the economy, the environment, or for the many Ontarians who are struggling right now—but no. We have a budget that is neither conservative nor progressive, and there appears to be no underlying vision whatsoever, beyond kicking the can down the road. 

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

FORUM: Budget passes in a consensus vote (Mar. 2023)

April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Budget passes in a consensus vote (Mar. 2023)

New support for vulnerable residents

By Dianne Saxe

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the end of winter. The events unfolding at city hall have been nothing short of extraordinary lately. From the first ever “strong mayor” budget to the mayor’s first loss on a major vote (the Yonge Street Complete Street) to 280 development applications in Ward 11 alone, there’s been a lot going on.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM: Conservative budget doesn’t deliver for Toronto (Mar. 2023)

April 12th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Conservative budget doesn’t deliver for Toronto (Mar. 2023)

Ford’s budget leaves us hanging

By Jessica Bell

The Conservative’s budget was released on March 23. Overall, the budget increases spending by one per cent, far below the 6.8 per cent rate of inflation. We will be seeing cuts. Here’s the lowdown.

Health care

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Winter’s not as cold as these deals! (Feb. 2023)

March 27th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL CARTOON: Winter’s not as cold as these deals! (Feb. 2023)

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Columns · Opinion

EDITORIAL: Freedom Ford-style (Feb. 2023)

March 27th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Freedom Ford-style (Feb. 2023)

Doug Ford abandoned us. That’s what a 200-page decision reviewing Ottawa’s invocation of the Emergencies Act says. Written by Commissioner Justice Paul Rouleau and published by the Public Order Emergency Commission, this report points the finger for last year’s Freedom Convoy riots squarely at the premier, whose failure to act, it says, led to some members of the public feeling emboldened.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

FORUM: Toronto’s budget built on a false premise (Feb. 2023)

March 27th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Toronto’s budget built on a false premise (Feb. 2023)

Where is Ford in Toronto’s time of need?

By Jessica Bell

The first official Toronto budget under the new strong mayor reign has revealed an unpleasant truth. This is a fantasy budget built on a house of cards. Even with a seven per cent planned property tax hike, the federal and provincial governments need to hand over $1.4 billion to the city for the budget to balance in 2023. And even if they say yes to Toronto’s official funding request, the city will still cut services.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

GREENINGS: Our trees are in crisis (Feb. 2023)

March 27th, 2023 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Our trees are in crisis (Feb. 2023)

ARA to resurvey all the trees in the Annex 

By Terri Chu

There’s a lot to love about the Annex: cultural vibrancy, a wide variety of local independent businesses, walkability and trees. 

Can you imagine this place without the big, beautiful maples? The streets would feel empty and dystopian. 

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Tags: Annex · Life · Opinion

EDITORIAL: We care Mr. Tory (Jan. 2023)

January 24th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: We care Mr. Tory (Jan. 2023)

In 2018, and during our last municipal election, Doug Ford’s Conservatives slashed the size of city council in half to 26. This created outsized wards that are too big to manage and a population that feels disconnected from elected representatives. Burned out councillors are also a symptom, and we’ve seen a few—Joe Cressy and Mike Layton, for example, just walked away. Voter turnout is down to 30 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots, and the province under Doug Ford continues to further erode the power and relevance of local government in Ontario.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

FORUM: His villainy was his lack of transparency (Jan. 2023)

January 24th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: His villainy was his lack of transparency (Jan. 2023)

Our just “trust me” mayor has betrayed democracy

By Sue Dexter

“What I can’t support is change being rammed down our throats without a single second of public consultation.” John Tory after the province slashes council in half, 2018. 

“Trust me.” John Tory on receiving unprecedented minority rule powers, after no public consultation, 2022.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Turbulent time to take a seat (Jan. 2023)

January 24th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Turbulent time to take a seat (Jan. 2023)

Governance, climate, and road safety goals emerge as priorities

By Dianne Saxe

Thank you all for selecting me as your city councillor. I would like to thank the Gleaner for inviting me to regularly update residents on what is happening in Ward 11 and at city council. 

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Toronto has a homelessness crisis (Jan. 2023)

January 24th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Toronto has a homelessness crisis (Jan. 2023)

Governments must come together to address it

By Jessica Bell

On Dec. 8, I stood with Reverend Maggie Helwig, Bishop Andrew Asbil of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and over 100 local residents to observe the installation of a cage around the Panhandler Jesus statue outside the Church of Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields on College St.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR (Dec. 2022)

December 13th, 2022 · Comments Off on LETTER TO THE EDITOR (Dec. 2022)

Re: Grading our Greenspaces – Margaret Fairley Park

I always enjoy getting the Annex Gleaner and have appreciated your Grading our Greenspace for many years…good for the neighbourhood and good for the parks department.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion