RAMBLINGS OF A RACONTEUR

DEMOCRACY AND SANDRA BUSSIN

East Toronto Councillor Sandra Bussin was upset when the province announced plans to reduce the number of city councillors from 57 to 44. "Shocking," the councillor is quoted as saying. "Where's the democratic process?" Ms. Bussin, like many of her self-aggrandizing colleagues, seems to not know or to forget how the Canadian political system works. Municipalities only have those powers which are given to them, courtesy of the provinces. During the last provincial election, voters gave Mike Harris and the Tories a second majority government. That's where the democratic process is, Sandra!

DEBUT OF THE CRIME CALL-IN

No noise bylaw violations were laid as a result of the big rave that was held last October at The Docks. Apparently, tickets could not be issued because bylaw enforcement officers were not given notice that the party, which woke up most of the south east portion of the city, was going to take place. We are lucky that the police don’t operate in the same way. Robbery and murder charges could only be laid if the police were notified that the crimes were going to take place.

A PENGUIN-FREE TORONTO

On a recent European junket, Coun. Kyle Rae saw brothels in Amsterdam and thought they would be a good idea for Toronto. Mayor Mel saw the docklands area of London and thought a similar concept would look good at Toronto's lakefront. Where should these guys take their next travelling road show? Perhaps the Antarctic. The megacity no doubt would be overrun by penguins. How can you possibly have a world class city that is "penguin free"? Just don't bring back the weather, guys. The military may be too busy lining up at food banks to come and shovel the snow.

ALL TALK NO ACTION

Now that the number of seats on Toronto City Council have been reduced from 57 to 44, councillors seem to be dropping like flies. Last month, Dennis Fotinos (Davenport) resigned his seat to take a job in the private sector. On January 5 Midtown Councillor Ila Bossons announced she will not seek re-election. If this trend continues, the excitement of incumbents fighting incumbents over fewer seats, will not materialize.

Bossons was quoted as saying that "municipal politicians have no power at all. All we do is talk." Bossons is not that far off; since the province reduced the numbers all the councillors did was talk about the reduction. Then Mayor Mel stepped in and warned councillors not to spend all their time electioneering. Now all they seem to be doing is debating whether Mel is right. But, councillors have no power? Has anyone bothered to tell that to Tom Jakobek?

LAST CALL

Toronto Free Press columnist Dr. Charles McVety got a mention in Eye Magazine's 'That was a scary year' feature. Under the cutesey subheading, 'Darwin Made Me Do It', McVety, who is president of Canada Christian College in Toronto, was given 'The Oliver Stone Conspiracy Theorist of the Year Award'. ..."In a series of bizarre columns for the 'monthly' Toronto Free Press, McVety claimed that the teaching of evolution in public schools causes racism, sexism, euthanasia and Nazism." Eye, which touts itself as "Toronto's weekly" got it wrong on two counts. Number one, Now enjoys the prestige of being Toronto's most recognized weekly, while Eye is only a pale pretender. Two, Toronto Free Press is a bi-monthly, and has been publishing every two weeks since May of 1999.