JERRY AGAR SHOW BLOG

Mayor Rob Ford responds to TCHC Gravy

Posted By: Jerry Agar · 3/2/2011 10:49:00 AM
Mayor Rob Ford joined me to respond to revelations of schocking and reckless spending by the TCHC. What action will he take now? Will board members be forced to resign? And will public housing be handed over to private corporations?

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  1. Nicholas posted on 03/02/2011 12:40 PM
    There's plenty of opportunity for Rob Ford to reduce expenditures in this city. Look across the whole spectrum of services, contemplate the caliber of the people that are in place, and then think of the waste. Proper procurement procedures and fixed price contracts would be a good start. I've worked with various institutions, public (provincial) and private and the rigor of the process and adherence to objectivity is generally pretty enviable. In Toronto, however, the whole process seems to be bungled or is subject to political whims and backroom deals.
  2. mike posted on 03/02/2011 01:21 PM
    The backroom deals will get more and more frequent if Ford gets his privaization dream. The people dont want private services running this city
  3. Jerry Agar posted on 03/02/2011 01:40 PM
    "The people dont want private services running this city " Really? What do you base that on? Recent surveys show that they do, and that the people who already have privatization of garbage collection support it the most. If what you mean id that you don't want it, just say so, but declare your own opinion to be that of the majority of others.
  4. mike posted on 03/02/2011 02:19 PM
    Agar when people are asked the question about private services with the REAL facts and NUMBERS then we will see. The real facts show that there are more complaints in Etobicoke then in the recently insourced old city of York.(the only comparision that exists) Im sorry but people dont want there taxpayers dollars going to stockholders and CEOS. And Jerry more people didnt vote for FOrd then those who did. Before anything gets privatized people need to see facts and figures and not hav e these desicions made on ideology. Are you getting your facts from the CD Howe report? The same report that was paid for by private waste lobbyist? The facts that "reporters" like yourself seem to convieniently leave out of the debate. http://sixthestate.net/?p=760
  5. Jerry Agar posted on 03/02/2011 03:51 PM
    Real facts and numbers? From whom? An anonymous blogger you linked to? Who is that? Can't easily tell from the web page. Doesn't even sign his or her name to the "full disclosure" section. Do you believe this blog simply because it tells you what you want to hear? Are unions more reliable than CD Howe? I don't know. The union has as much self interest as anyone. And why does anyone care of someone makes a profit? What is evil about profit? All we should care is whether the job is done well at the best price. If a private entity can't do it, don't give them the contract. If they can, then they get it, not the union.
  6. mike posted on 03/02/2011 04:39 PM
    This blogger has found ut the truth that the CD Howe Report was paid for by LOBBYIST for the private waste companys. Convienient that it was told to be done a month before the municipal election. How about the facts that complaints are lower in York and cheaper since it has been insourced? Any insight on that? What about the reoort done by the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative? Actual numbers showing the true costs of Toronto's garbage, as well as the fantastic job they do diverting garbage to landfills. http://www.ombi.ca/docs/db2file.asp?fileid=216 page 72 is waste management This report has ZERO to do with any Unions, lobbyist of Private companys in any way. It is strictly facts on the true costs. Agar if you have any links that show private garbage is cheaper Id love to see it( something from an unbias soucre please)
  7. david henman posted on 03/03/2011 08:11 AM
    ...privatizing the tchc is brilliant - this way, if we complain about excessive execustive salaries and perks, they can tell us its none of our business.
  8. Alan Wristen posted on 03/03/2011 08:49 AM
    I applaud Rob Ford for his initiative to not stand by and let the waste that has lowered Toronto's living status. Is it any wonder Dalton McGuinty plays the skinflint with Toronto and refuses to hand over more funding? The buck has to stop and for a change it's going to be those at the top who'll get a taste of what the general public has been dealing with for years. I hope this isn't an excuse to shut down a service which was begun for all the right reasons. As for privatizing it makes sense if their are checks and balances on who gets the contracts and is Toronto getting a good price for these contracted services. TTC should have been done a long time ago. Kudos Rob! Keep up the good work and I want to hear more of these audits. AL W
  9. Sammy Maudlin posted on 03/03/2011 10:29 AM
    Public garbage pick up costs less than private??? Let's see, private companies bid a price on their services, unions do not. Unions strike, have outlandish pension plans, outlandish severance packages, outlandish rates of pay, require significantly more employees to do the same amount of work, ... There is not one legitimate economist that will say that public service unions overall benefit taxpayers or the economy that they operate within. End of story. Go Wisconsin!!!
  10. Roko B. posted on 03/03/2011 10:41 AM
    I agree all the services that are run by Government of Canada, Ontario province and Toronto city should be given to the private sector to manage. Of coarse it should be proper bidding and full disclosure of any contract. Fact of the matter is government cannot compete with the private sector in anything other then raising taxes and printing more money. Public employee doesn’t have incentive to utilize, scrutinize,,,,, when did the government come with any invention, innovation? Just ask yourself how does the government makes money,,,, how do they get their paychecks, 100% benefits, job security for life??
  11. Vern posted on 03/03/2011 11:25 AM
    Jerry the mayor lied to you yesterday ON THE AIR when he said the "consultants" would not get a dime unless they saved the city big money - I believe he said 100 millin or so. Why didn't you take him up on that lie ??
  12. Vern posted on 03/03/2011 12:48 PM
    Jerry, I hear you mention my comment here and I reference the following: 1/ The City of Toronto's Summary of the request for interest in outside consultants. https://wx.toronto.ca/inter/pmmd/calls.nsf/0/095DC5C006853F7B85257834006FF764?OpenDocument Now this is just a summary. A complete document can be purchased for 25 bucks +HST. I intend to purchase one tomorrow when I am downtown. So, .. look at the addenda stated at that link. Addenda are integral to the proposal issued by the city and form part of the "call for' proposal. https://wx.toronto.ca/inter/pmmd/calls.nsf/0/095DC5C006853F7B85257834006FF764/$file/9144-11-7001%20Addendum%202.pdf Read on a little and you will see the full proposal calls for "per deim costs for various classes of consultants. I quote: d) Replace the following text in Section 5.3. Response content, Part 3, Cost of services.Core pricing ........ etc.etc. ... ( continue reading and you see the proposal calls for respondents to include their daily costs for various levels of "consultants". It also changes the daily time period to 7 hours from 8 hours. e) "All prices shall quotes shall exclude all applicable taxes." Section 'f' also referenced the per diem cost. I imagine there are also provisions for "reasonable expenses" in the original full proposal issued by the city. Now Jerry does this sould like a contingency type of arrangement when respondents are to be graded ( partially), on daily costs per 7 hours work for various levels of consultants' seniority ?? It certainly doesn't to me. Now the first question you ought to have asked is this: Mayor Ford who in their right mind would invest 3 million of THEIR money up front and expect they will be paid IF they save money for the city sometime down the road - presumably years form now - somehow after another audit THEN, after changes were made ..., based on what criteria ? (I doubt if such criteria are present in the call for interest proposal) ?? It's bull friend. ... It's not like a security company telling a large retailer they will take a piece of their shrinkage when they cut down on the shrinkage - no up front money... . Further, If the proposal is truly based on a contingency it necessarily denies many smaller and even medium sized - though competant consultant firms - from even considering responding. Which firms (small or large), have $3 million hanging around in their bank looking for a home with the city of Toronto >>??? Further the deputy mayor Holydale states in the press this AM (I heard him say it but I have no link at this time), "the 3 million would be money well spent if savings could be found". - words to that effect. Further, The Toronto Sun reports: " Chief Financial Officer Cam Weldon said the money has been set aside in the non-program account, a pool of money that also includes an undisclosed amount for settling contract negotiations. "It's around $3 million," Weldon said to Coun. Gord Perks, during debate on the 2011 operating budget. http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/02/24/17391391.html I am doing more than suggesting Ford lied Jerry. He knew or ought to have known what the play was here with this 3 million and he lied to your listeners and Toronto citizens on this. He needs to be taken up DIRECTLY on it and a "clarification " will not do. Many citizens have had enough of his "clarifications" already. The man lies pathalogically ... and smiles doing it ...
  13. Roko B. posted on 03/03/2011 01:00 PM
    Rob Ford you are my Canadian IDOL. If you continue the way you started to clean this gravy train in the city hall your popularity rating, in no time will be close to 100%. GO FORD GO
  14. Vern posted on 03/04/2011 12:41 PM
    I really didn't think you would respond Jerry. You obviously think it's a joke that the mayor comes on your program and blatantly lies to citizens via your Astral program and you laught it off with your pollster/employee. .... unless you intend to take it up next week or something ?? -- I won't hold my breath ... Have a nice weekend .. Chicago again ?? After the theatre with robbie ?? "they won't get a dime " ....
  15. Jerry posted on 03/04/2011 12:54 PM
    Vern. Patience. There is a lot to read there and I will go over it over the weekend. I may also have to check it out with people who know more than I do about how those contracts work. Anyone else who cares to do the same is welcome to weigh in, as long as you actually read it and actually know what you are talking about. And Vern, if all you want to do is hurl insults because I did not stop my life and read all of that material in the first 15 minutes after you sent it, then I am going to start doubting your own expertise.
  16. e nough posted on 03/04/2011 03:20 PM
    There is no gravy train at the provincial level either. Stop scamming the electorate with falsehoods...the issue is revenue .... it seem the only way conservatives can gainand hold power is by lying...what a joke! Agar is a failed want to be American...
  17. Vern posted on 03/07/2011 10:21 AM
    Fair enough Jerry. I withdraw my last comments to you Friday and apologize for them - they were birthed in a little frustration. As far as my expertise goes I wrote specifications for a living for 25 years (at least I did prior to retiring). So I am quite familiar with that kind of document, it's content, it's intent.and how consultants work. And these types of consultants ain't working on contingencies. Anyway thanks for your reply and I'll listen for your further comments.
  18. Vern posted on 03/11/2011 04:41 PM
    Oh .. how predictable. The call for porposals for consultants to lok at Toronto's business practices and how they appoint people to boards and commissions has now disappeared from the City's website. We'll see about that friends .. Jerry ... do you know where it went ?? Did you discuss this with mayor Ford ??
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