Political Platform Highlights

The Toronto City Council and the Metropolitan Police Force are dysfunctional under Mayor Miller's tenure.

There is "NO" acceptable financial planning by City Council. They operate on a "If we need more money in the future we will simply increase property taxes or find other methods of taxation to fit the need". This is unacceptable!

Metropolitan Police Chief Bill Blair seems unable to cope with the rising "gun assisted" crimes in Toronto, and when pressed to show leadership as was needed in the recent G20 and G8 Conferences he  alienated the people of Toronto. Chief Blair has caused, by his actions, a stream of civil law suits brought by angry spectators having been arrested without charge during these conferences. In my opinion he has disgraced this City and has portrayed Toronto to the international news media as a "police state".

Platform

1. I will stop the use of private consulting firms by the City of Toronto. Toronto employs lawyers, city planners, transportation engineers, etc. All  necessary planning, studies, surveys, etc. necessary for good, stable city operations can be accomplished by City employees. City Council has used private consulting firms to "cover their asses" when the subject of these studies are politically explosive in nature. They can then tell the public, "It wasn't us"e.g. Mayors recommended salary increase. The City spends millions in this manner. There is absolutely "no value for dollar" in the use of private consulting firms by the Toronto Council.

2. I will demand a complete forensic audit of the City of Toronto and its spin off corporations just to see where the City stands financially.

3. I will demand that the Chief of Police become an elected position making the Chief accountable to the voters of this City and not to City Council. At present the Police Force acts as if they are above the law.

4. I will cut the budget of the Police force by 10%. Their  budget stands at $900,000,000 or 10% of the city budget.  Property taxes can then be reduced by $90,000,000

5. All expenditures made by the City must cross my desk to be scrutinized before payments are made.

6. The contract to purchase a new landfill site in St. Thomas, ON will be revisited as I know from personal, first hand knowledge that the sale price of $273 million is inflated and contains disturbing information not disclosed by City Council to the public.

At present the Mayor and Toronto Councillors  do not represent the views of the voter nor act in the best interest of the voter. They have their own agenda. It is my view that as Mayor it would be my duty to act in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the voters. The Mayor has only one responsibility. He/She must act for the people of Toronto not as he/she wishes, but as the people demand.

I will represent you and work for you, the voter.
Respectfully.

Barry C. Goodhead