Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has backed down over her attempt to supplant the “One Cent Now” campaign led by Toronto Mayor David Miller to wring one cent of the federal GST from Ottawa to fund Canadian municipalities. Ms. McCallion emerged from a lengthy meeting today of the mayors of Ontario’s 15 biggest cities to announce that she is now willing to support the campaign, although she won some concessions from her fellow mayors.
The final resolution from the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario calls for the federal government to share the “equivalent of one cent of GST with Canada’s cities and communities,” with the word “equivalent” underlined. It also recognizes that the national campaign should support local initiatives “including the Cities Now! Campaign in Mississauga.” In return, Ms. McCallion agreed to lend her support to the One Cent campaign, which Mr. Miller has championed for the past year. “It was a hot meeting, but a cold seat,” Ms. McCallion told reporters gathered at the chilly Oshawa hockey arena where the meeting was held. “But I want to assure you that the decision … was unanimous.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she’s “speechless” about the continued delayed of the Eglinton Crosstown, saying she’s no more knowledgeable on the project than residents and business owners who’ve been waiting years for it to wrap up.
“I don’t know what to say anymore, it’s leaving me speechless,” said Chow.
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