Canada's largest city elects Tea Partyish Mayor

[Lucy Goosey]

Really, Toronto?? Sometimes Canada follows the same pendulum swings as the US, I guess. Only not so extreme - I mean, it's not like anyone could oppose our Medicare and get elected, for example. And we don't have an equivalent of the Second Amendment.

I mean, Rob Ford obviously not a full-blown "Official" Tea Party member, but he's angry at "urban elites" and angry at taxes and anti-immigrant, etc. He's going to scrap the city's fair wage policy, which guarantees market wages to any workers contracted by the city, which in turn means there is no significant financial incentive for the city to use non-union labour.

He's against gay marriage, which is a settled issue in Canada, and was never a city issue to begin with - not to mention that his main opponent in the race is openly gay and married. (I really hoped the headlines today would be "Canada's largest city elects openly gay Mayor. Sigh.)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/10/24/toronto-election-vote495.html

Some choice Ford quotes:

"Those Oriental people work like dogs. They work their hearts out ... that's why they're successful in life. ... I'm telling you, Oriental people, they're slowly taking over, because there's no excuses for them. They're hard, hard workers."

Explaining his objection to funding AIDS prevention programs "(AIDS) is very preventable," and that "if you are not doing needles and you are not gay, you wouldn't get AIDS probably, that's bottom line." With respect to the increasing rates of women contracting the disease, Ford said; "How are women getting it? Maybe they are sleeping with bisexual men."

In 2002, Ford strenuously objected to the possibility that a homeless shelter would open in his suburban Etobicoke ward. Later in the same year, he was quoted while berating an anti-poverty activist, "Do you have a job, sir? I'll give you a newspaper to find a job, like everyone else has to do between 9 and 5." In 2005, Ford told a homeless protestor, "I'm working. Why don't you get a job?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Ford

The good news from last night - Canada's capital city (and my home), Ottawa, booted its disastrous pro-big business, pro-urban sprawl Mayor after one term. Outgoing mayor O'Brien was one of those millionaire businessmen who runs for elected office by saying he's going to run the city like a business, and then fails miserably. Mayor-elect Jim Watson, Liberal Party member, was opposed to O'Brien's plans to build a sprawling new suburb for rich people in favour of developing downtown, and tackling homelessness and public transportation problems.

I have a feeling Toronto will come to its senses in 4 years like Ottawa, and Ford will be a one-term wonder.

[mmonk]

1. Please don't get swamped by the US's disease.

There needs to be somewhere for some of us to go.

[Lucy Goosey]

2. It's never as extreme here...

Ford can be personally opposed to gay marriage, immigration, and social programs all he wants, but it's not like he can do anything about it as a Mayor. Anyway, Ottawa and Calgary just elected great new Mayors - there are other cities to escape to. :)

[NV Whino]

3. My condolences

But I'm sure Toronto will come to its senses.