Blame Ford and Tory for taxes, not Chow. Plus, mixed feelings for Broadbent and Trudeau

The reason we find ourselves in this financial mess is mayors like Rob Ford and John Tory, both rich white men, both Conservatives at heart, who used low tax voodoo to blind voters to the fact that modest increases yearly are better than one big kick to the pants. Of course both of these men could easily afford this current tax increase, but either way they used low taxes as a wedge issue for their own political gain.

Now the current mayor, a woman, is left holding their poisoned chalice. I'm certainly not happy with this mess and it costs me, but I certainly know where the blame for it lies. I am a senior on a fixed income and I am willing to pay higher property taxes. More than that, I applaud leaders like Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Chief Shelley Carroll for their courage in calling out the chronic under funding.

I hope my councillor, Lily Cheng, supports. Count on me to gladly pay my share! I support the views expressed in the recent survey which found that many people in the city want to see affordable housing, shelters and TTC improvements. Like many residents, I also think that the police force should re organize and do with less money.

What has happened to our city? The infrastructure is crumbling and potholes abound, all due to the foolish, no tax hike, punt the pain forward mentality of our myopic former mayor and his sheep like followers on city council. A property tax hike is both much needed and inevitable, and should have been implemented, incrementally, years ago.

As a homeowner, I am prepared to step up and do my share. However, we homeowners are not the only people who live in this city and partake of and enjoy its various amenities. Toronto has a high percentage of renters. With the exception of lower income households, these renters should do their part as well.

I can hear the screams already, but a poll tax is a much fairer way of dividing up the burden of shoring up the finances of Canada's largest city and its most important economic engine. Enough already. Stop blaming property owners in Toronto for the financial mess. We are at the end of the line with double digit property tax increases, double digit grocery and mortgage increases, insurance increases and gas tax increases.

How many older citizens will lose their homes because of these tax increases? Let’s not forget the increases on garbage fees and street parking fees that are separate from property taxes. Let’s try hotel taxes, tolls for those entering city, larger permit fees to cover the true cost for infill homes, fewer sidewalk replacements that do not need to be replaced, vacancy taxes on homes and large fines for construction trucks and cars that block all of our streets.

Mayor Olivia Chow needs to realize that there are three levels of government, but only one taxpayer wallet. , As can be said with many federal NDP party leaders, Ed Broadbent was the right man with the wrong party. Unfortunately for Broadbent and his supporters, the NDP socialist moniker was like an albatross around his neck and it became a party that most entrenched Canadians could not trust, nor come to grips with allowing the NDP to become a ruling power at a junction of political time.

That's not to say Broadbent did not distinguish himself with an air of prestige and political acumen. Broadbent will be remembered as a quality politician who was trusted by all those who looked beyond his party’s socialist dogma and left wing leanings. A great man, politician and Canadian, he will be missed.

Ed Broadbent was very honest and a terrific politician. One would think that would be a contradiction in terms, but not for Broadbent. That sort of politician is a rarity today. Broadbent was yesterday’s politician, and that is the supreme compliment. Because of Ed Broadbent, Canada ended up passing the 1988 free trade deal with the U.S.

as he put his ambitions for the NDP to be Official Opposition ahead of fighting free trade. If you watch the last minutes of the three hour election debate, John Turner, leader of the opposition, gave an impassioned plea about Canada’s future if the deal was implemented, while Broadbent barely mentions the "comprehensive" trade deal and instead says the other parties represent the past and the NDP represents "change." I have mixed feelings about Broadbent and this failure to put the country ahead of his party is ignored by the media when it should be remembered.

Some "champion" for Canada. Enough Trudeau bashing! The editorial cartoon showing "regular" folks with bills to pay versus Justin Trudeau going for a much needed vacation was lazy and mean spirited. He's our prime minister! Of course he knows people with money. The job is exhausting and becoming more dangerous.

All this does is give unknowing voters a reason to prefer Pierre Poilievre. Is that what we want? God help us. Sophie McKay, Toronto If Justin Trudeau (or any other politician) is offered a gift and accepting it is so questionable that they feel the need to run it by the ethics commissioner, the solution is obvious.

Do not accept the gift. Apparently incompetence appears to be a requirement to become a health minister, federal or provincial, given the state of our emergency rooms. How many ministers are just politicians instead of health care professionals? I believe this feeds into the level of dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who lately appears to be more interested in foreign affairs than Canadian issues.

Trudeau should do something for real, or follow his dad steps. He knew when to resign. Otherwise, Pierre Poilievre will be elected..