Going off the Rails on a
Gravy Train
Alekzia Hosein At around 7pm Monday, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday suggested the implementation of private toll lanes to the Don Valley Parkway to the Toronto City Council. Holyday credited the idea to former councilor, Paul Sutherland, who suggested adding four centre-express lanes to the DVP for toll-paying vehicles and express buses in 2001. The council rapidly shot the idea down. Holyday acknowledged Mayor’s Ford’s opposition of toll roads, but suggested a go-around by building an entirely new lane. Even Holyday’s usual allies were in disbelief. Giorgio Mammoliti and fellow right-leaning councilors, Denzil Minnan-Wong and David Shiner were vocally skeptical about the movement as well. “Do you realize you’re driving people nuts with this motion?” Mammoliti asked.. An earlier presentation by Councillor Josh Matlow, motioning to study road tolls for non-residents on both the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway. The discussion was merely a sideshow to the main business of the day: a debate over the proposed $28-million of cuts, part of the $95-million worth of savings recommended by the city manager. The cuts come as part of Toronto’s six-month-long core services review, which aims to close a “massive” budget shortfall.
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Over 4,000 anti-Ford protestors gathered outside of the building during the meeting. One major point of contention during the meeting was the size of the budget gap. Contrary to estimates of $600-million made by the Ford team in prior weeks, a figure of $774-million “is absolutely the real number,” Ford said Monday. The city’s chief financial officer, Cam Wheldon agreed that the gap has moved since the $774-million estimate was made in February, but refused to provide a more up-to-date estimate. Vehement opponents of Ford’s cost-cutting plan, Adam Vaughan and Gordon Perks pointed out an extra $80-million in the budget, unexpected revenue from the land transfer tax. “We have far more money available to us to save city services than the city manager and the mayor are saying on the floor of council today,” Perks argued. After unveiling proposed cuts in August, support for Rob Ford dropped to only 40% of Torontonians . according to poll results released by Forum Research. “If Ford were to actually start cutting services, Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff said, “I expect support for him would drop even more.”
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SMCSU Talks Money Noelle Grace The St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) has long been renowned as one of the most vibrant and exciting student unions on the St. George campus, and this year it is working harder than ever to maintain its reputation. As the 2011-2012 school year begins, many organizations on campus are struggling with the reality of economic hardships and tighter budgets, and SMCSU is no exception. Finance Commissioner Fran Turco has been working tirelessly with SMCSU to stretch the limited budget to cover a variety of events that are fun, memorable, and affordable for students. SMCSU collects its yearly budget from student fees as well as from donations and sponsorships from various community contributors. Mainly, funds come “from Student Levy ($14.00 per semester) and from any surplus created from the previous budget,” says Ms. Turco. Donations that St. Michael’s College alumni make directly to SMCSU also help fund the budget. “Certainly our social events are allocated a large portion of the budget, but their revenue leaves SMCSU and our students with substantial profits that are used to create better events in the future,” says Ms. Turco. Among this year’s most expensive events
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are the Double Blue Formal and this year’s musical, Hairspray. “[These] are two events that we invest a notable amount of time and wealth in. However, their rewards are unprecedented amongst campus-wide events.” After allegations of a SMCSU budget deficit spread across campus, some have questioned SMCSU's ability to meet students' expectations in the upcoming year. “SMCSU has established a budget that has provided an exceptional brand of student-life to all members of our community,” says Ms. Turco. To control expenses, some events will cut spending. Last year, SMCSU managed its funds to not only provide services for students, but also to donate to philanthropic causes. Following the March tsunami, SMCSU donated $2,000 of its budget surplus to the Japan Relief campaign led by St. Mike’s students, and challenged other Student Unions across campus to do the same. “This year you will see an outstanding array of new and exciting events for St. Michael’s College. We hope to make [the students] proud this year and we promise to make this their best experience during their time in university,” Ms. Turco promised, on behalf of the union.
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