Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mayor Ford won’t support tolls to fund Sheppard extension

Mayor Rob Ford will not support road tolls to fund extension of the Sheppard subway line, Councillor Doug Ford said Monday.
The mayor pronounced himself “totally opposed” to road tolls during his campaign. But Gordon Chong, the Ford ally appointed to develop the business case for the 13-kilometre extension, said last week that tolls may be among the revenue-generating tools needed to raise $4 billion critics say will never be found.

Rob Ford’s office did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Doug Ford, the mayor’s brother and trusted adviser, said emphatically that “road tolls are not going to happen.”

The city would require provincial approval to impose tolls. Doug Ford said Chong’s job is “to look at all the options,” and those options may go before council. But council will not accept tolls, Ford said.

The mayor seeks to pay for the extension via a public-private partnership. He has not explained, however, how he believes such an arrangement would work or how much corporate money it could generate. A consulting firm is being hired to develop a proposal.

Full Article

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