Democratic Gridlock

Read an interesting article today on the Toronto Star regarding one of the paramount obstacles that stands in the way of business growth and sustainability in the province of Ontario.

Gridlock!

It's something that we Toronto-dwellers know all too well. Beside the personal annoyance and arm-flailing that comes from that hour-long standstill on the Gardiner (or DVP) that we've all experienced, think about the logistical concerns both for product movement, and even just getting employees into the workplace.

It's a very real issue that needs to be dealt with.

And what does heir-apparent, Sandra Pupatello have to say about this? Well, no official statement is available at this time. However, taken from the article posted above:

Another frontrunner, Sandra Pupatello, claimed she needed more time to consider the issue. (She promised to make Ottawa hand over more money — proof the self-styled straight shooter still believes in a Tory tooth fairy who surrenders cash on demand.)
-Martin Regg Cohn, Queen's Park Correspondant, Toronto Star

So, let's get this straight, Ms. Pupatello:

How much money has been wasted on eHealth, ORNGE, the $180 million+ power plant debacle (or, voter-buy, depending on how you look at it)... and you expect the Federal Government to simply cut your party a cheque?

(Make no mistake, there's plenty more that I disagree with regarding the actions of the governing Ontario Liberal Party, alas I simply don't have the time to write it all in one post)

But you, Sandra Pupatello, cannot hide from any of the gross mismanagement of public funds. You were front and center for every dollar spent, every bad decision, until you decided to "retire" from politics in 2011 return to politics in 2012. Inner-circle status, ministry portfolios and anointed a front-runner to replace McGuinty at one time. And now once more.

It's maddening that we, the voters of Ontario, wait here, legislature still prorogued; Ontario sits in financial crisis, while the self-styled Warrior Princess battles it out with the other Liberal Brass to see who will begin an attempt at cleaning up the cesspool of debt and political waste.

And apparently, the front-runners idea to solve one of the many problems plaguing our once great Province?

Ask the Federal Government for more cash.

Let me know how that works out for you, Sandra.

Toronto's Transit System; Growing Concerns and Postulations

Five TTC enforcement officers have been accused of skipping work and falsifying provincial-offence tickets against homeless people, allegations which have resulted in criminal charges and the loss of their jobs.


According to CBC, the investigation was ongoing for over four months and included in these investigations were the Toronto Police.

TTC CEO Andy Byford: workers whose actions damage the reputation of Canada's largest transit system will not be tolerated.

Herein lies the rub. This is not the first scandal over the past few years regarding the professionalism of the employees at the Toronto Transit Commission. We all remember the toll-operator asleep on the job a couple of years ago, as well as the allegations of serious harassment coming from these employees. Furthermore, we who live in Toronto all have our own horror stories with snarky employees, rude behaviour and, at times, recklessness that is bred within the TTC payroll. 

Though we have witnessed the ceremonial severing of those "dumb enough to get caught" for the tax-payers/customers, this organization seems to be in public relations damage-control mode. Or at least it ought to be.

Many will thrash the TTC, and it's unions (and management), for not taking public concern seriously. Some will bring up the point of how much tax revenue from the municipality is dumped into the system. Well, here's where it gets interesting: the TTC actually does make around 75% of its cost back from revenue. 

As far as public sector goes, that's not the worst I've ever heard.

However, the average payscale is a bit alarming. According to the TTC's recruitment website, the average starting pay for a driver is $23.59 after completion of training... plus benefits.

There's another, slightly more puzzling, table that is on this very page:
It is acceptable for a driver applicant to have two driving offenses and no more than 3 demerit points on their driver abstract.

We all make mistakes in life, this is a truism. However, for one to operate a mass-transit vehicle and take the lives of Toronto's citizens in their hands each day, I would think that a spotless driving record would have to be a bit of a bona-fide occupational requirement. Especially, considering the pay-scale to starting operators.

I know, we're all a little bit bent out of shape about the TTC's massive wages, huge benefits programs and how they seem to link up with a narrative of self-entitlement that breeds bad behaviour. After all, the now ex-TTC Enforcenment Officers were making between $70,000-$90,000 per year.

Despite the considered "efficiency" of 75% self-sufficiency, I can't help but think that number still seems a bit low to prove the TTC is an effective administrator of services on behalf of the public trust. Off the top of my head, I can't think of too many businesses in the world that would allow that level of compensation while, essentially, coming 25% short of target revenue consistently per annum.

Perhaps it's time to look beyond the dollars and cents. Perhaps its time to look at the culture that this kind of treatment, union-shielding and pay scale has produced.

We may dig deep and find that, like these five who defrauded us all (not to mention the use of the homeless in their scheme), there are only a few bad apples in the bunch. That, maybe, the system has been the victim of bad press, overly-negative word-of-mouth and we, the citizens, just plain not being fair with them.

Or, maybe we see that often talked about culture of entitlement, thriving in an industry that is tax-subsidized, might be sorely lacking in leadership and sound planning going forward.

It is time to strip this thing to the bones; see what lies beneath, to view the culture and makeup of this behemoth public institution. Are the leaders leading? What of employee efficiency? Public and employee safety? What would an independent auditor say about the wages/salaries and cost efficiencies?

We owe it to the TTC: an attempt to explain the increasing accusations of substandard service and questionable actions of employees. And they owe it to us to acknowledge anything that is discovered. From there, I'm sure we can reasonably deduce the next course of action.

An Introduction

My friends,

Thank you for stumbling upon my little corner of the internet. I'll try to keep it as tidy and well stocked as possible for you all. Let me start this whole thing off with a little bit about who I am, and why I believe what I do:

My name is Adam James Osborne, and I am concerned.

I am concerned about the state of my once great province: Ontario. A province which I have lived most of my life in, and one in which I have called multiple regions and municipalities home. Petawawa, Owen Sound, London, Whitby, Windsor and Toronto. Though there are several parts of this great land I still wish to spend an extended time in, I feel as though I have experienced some wondrous places to dwell with the brief 28 years I have had on this planet.

But, as I've stated, I am worried.

Over the last ten years, as you probably all know, our debt has sky-rocketed,  the total projected debt stands at $257.3-billion as [of] March 31, 2012. Our credit has been downgraded. But to me, one of the most alarming facts isn't just a statistic. It's the human cost.

I spent about a year and a half in Windsor until about six months ago (when I moved back to Toronto), and let me tell you... what an eye opening that experience was.

If you haven't been to, and especially lived in, a city that was once prosperous because of a strong manufacturing industry that has been gutted, it is something to behold. To make it even more sobering for me, the only job I could find within the municipality? A Senior FCSR position for a payday loan/wire transfer corporation.

The first of the month was always the most alarming to me. People literally lined up an hour before we opened our doors to be the first to cash their Ontario Works or Ontario Disability cheques. Regular people- people who once had lucrative and productive careers. I witnessed first hand how our private sector has been decimated, and continues to drown; a once proud and economically powerful municipality reduced to a shell of its former self.

Now, there's another wrinkle to this story. One that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

A close friend of mine (no need for names) worked for the City of Windsor and belonged to CUPE. His job paid north of $20/hr and was only a little short of a full time schedule. He had no post secondary education and no trade skills of which to speak.

What was his position?

He worked at a front desk at a community center, registering children for after-school classes and summer camps. Sometimes, he would go into work on the weekends to pick up some extra hours. His duties during that time were often to sell candy at dances when the local elementary and middle schools would rent out the gymnasium.

I can't say I blame him for staying at such a job. Many of us with high levels of education and trade skills would bend over backwards to make $20/hr in this economy. But isn't this just a microcosm of the problem?

In Tim Hudak's recent presentation, When The Money Runs Out, he spoke of the bulging public service sector, and the financial cost to all of us that is incurred. At about 11:18 of his presentation he hit the proverbial nail on the head.

Think about that for a moment. Over half of our provincial spending goes into payment and entitlements for public sector employees, while our tax-dollar and revenue-generating private sector continues to languish; a rusty ship put out to sea without much notice. How can the only growth sector in this province be bureaucracy and public services?

This is not the Ontario where I grew up. This is not the way towards a prosperous society.

We need change, and I intend to do my part, for what its worth.

I welcome you all to share and comment and debate here. The beauty of the internet is the free exchange of thoughts and ideas. We are the voting populace, and we can enact change through education on the issues and through shared sweat-equity.

I was raised in a province that was never afraid of a little hard work.
Lets be that province again.