[toto]

There's 275M left over in the 2010 budget meaning council has to raise less revenue (through property taxes or other governmental sources) to cover the projected 2011 budget.

I wonder if vehicle registration and land transfer taxes collected last year = 275M?

 

[SimonP]

Is he allowed to pay for the campaign shortfall with money from the print shop? or will that land him back in front of the integrity commissioner? (yet again)

A candidate, or their spouse, can donate an unlimited amount of their own money to a campaign. Ford is a millionaire, so if he needs to he can afford to pay a few hundred thousand out of pocket. Though this doesn't set a good precedent.

Where things get iffy is if at the same time Ford is paying a few hundred thousand to the campaign, the company transfers a similar amount to him. That would be illegal as it would be an indirect corporate contribution.

 

[W. K. Lis]

There's 275M left over in the 2010 budget meaning council has to raise less revenue (through property taxes or other governmental sources) to cover the projected 2011 budget.

One reasons maybe for the surplus is that the recession caused some deflation in some expenses for 2010, IE. fuel, asphalt, etc.. They had budgeted for inflation or increases in all the expenses, but some had lower prices. Don't expect deflation in the coming years, especially when we get out of the recession.

 

[cgguy]

Sweet! We'll be able to afford a couple more Pandas!

 

[adma]

One reasons maybe for the surplus is that the recession caused some deflation in some expenses for 2010, IE. fuel, asphalt, etc.. They had budgeted for inflation or increases in all the expenses, but some had lower prices. Don't expect deflation in the coming years, especially when we get out of the recession.

Maybe not just recession, but the non-winter causing a reduction in plowing/salting expenses...

 

[MetroMan]

More faking tactics by the Ford campaign: Did Ford campaign’s tricks knock Tory out?

This campaign was full of deceiving dirty tactics. How are we supposed to believe anything Rob or Nick or Doug say after this?

He (Nick Kouvalis) then choked up and appeared near tears (...) “Give Robbie a chance. He means well. He wants to do the right thing for the taxpayer . . . He’s going to be a good mayor."

... Is anybody falling for that?

 

[GraphicMatt]

Rob Ford is mostly harmless, I think, but the people who surround him - Kouvalis and Towhey particularly - are dangerous.

 

[Peepers]

More faking tactics by the Ford campaign: Did Ford campaign’s tricks knock Tory out?

This campaign was full of deceiving dirty tactics. How are we supposed to believe anything Rob or Nick or Doug say after this?

Those sore losers over at the Star just won't give up.

I have to say that I am impressed with just how candid the Ford team is. They have been open about everything, first the fake twitter account and now this. Politics is a rough sport and the Ford team is not making any apologies for playing to win.

Anyway it is obvious that John Tory is not upset with this tactic since he has offered his services to a Ford admiration.

 

[Hairy Yeti Poo Balls]

I gotta give props to Rob Ford. He's going to be a busy man juggling his political career with his role on According to Jim.

 

[Peepers]

... Is anybody falling for that?

After reading the FULL quote the answer is YES!

"He then choked up and appeared near tears while describing Ford going out in the middle of the night to help a player he coaches on a high school football team who had been arrested and had nowhere to stay"

This is the compassionate side of Ford that the public rarely sees.

 

[GraphicMatt]

Anyway it is obvious that John Tory is not upset with this tactic since he has offered his services to a Ford admiration.

Tory denied this story today - he offered his services as he did to David Miller and would to anyone sitting in the mayor's chair. It's part of his job as chair of the City Summit Alliance.

 

[archanfel]

Ah, you can taste the bitterness in the air. Now the truth is out, could any Ford supporter raise your hand and voice your regret please? One political dirty trick outplayed another political dirty trick and the innocent/naive people of Toronto are shocked. Bravo. No thanks to Ford of course, but at least we know now that his inner circle is not all stupid and they didn't win this election by chance. Globe and Mail actually have a 7 pages article detailing the inner work of the Ford's campaign. It makes an intriguing read.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...o-has-to-learn-to-lead-a-pack/article1778833/

" Why does the dog wag its tail ?" Answer is " Because the dog leads the tail. "
" So if the tail leads the dog , does the tail then WAG THE DOG ? "

 

[adma]

Successful scam artists aren't necessarily "stupid", either.

 

[Automation Gallery]

I just knew this guy had a bit of blue in him.

Rossi to run for Tories

Rocco Rossi, the Toronto mayoral candidate who ran a Goodfella-style ad campaign that promised he had bocce balls, is taking up the provincial Tory banner.

Rossi is expected to announce this morning that he will seek a nomination in Toronto for PC Leader Tim Hudak.

The son of Italian immigrants bowed out early from the Toronto mayoral race, despite good press, after polling showed he had no momentum to defeat frontrunners Rob Ford and George Smitherman.

Rossi is expected to go head-to-head with Liberal MPP Mike Colle in the ridng of Eglinton-Lawrence.

The new Tory has previously held a senior position with the Liberal Party of Canada, but ran on a more centrist-right platform in the mayoral campaign.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/02/01/17110176.html

 

[GraphicMatt]

Ignoring the optics of a true-believer Ignatieff Liberal running for the Hudak Tories, challenging four-termer Mike Colle as a PC candidate in a 416 riding is suicidal in several ways.