Joe’s the city builder

Now Magazine:

Pantalone's fiscal plan is the only one that adds up

By Mayor David Miller

We all know that in Toronto, we have an incredible city, one that is diverse, modern, inclusive and a place where we cherish values of social justice and opportunity for all.

Over the past seven years as mayor, I am proud of the renaissance that has begun.

We have taken bold steps to build an even better city. We have invested in priorities like public transit, community safety, priority neighbourhoods, the environment, arts and culture, the rejuvenation of our public housing stock, the waterfront, jobs and economic development. We also reached out to help Torontonians hurt by the global recession.

Toronto still has challenges, but we need to step back and appreciate what we have built together.

Just last Friday, for example, we received the first of our new made-in- Ontario subway cars. They are sleek and modern, but more importantly they are more accessible, can carry more people more comfortably, and with the connection to an automated train control system, they can run closer together, meaning more frequent service.

This is the kind of investment Torontonians wanted, and that is what we delivered.

I’m proud of what we have accomplished together. I am not, however, proud of this mayoral campaign.

What I see are two candidates who don’t believe in Toronto and only one – deputy mayor Joe Pantalone – who does. The two are describing a place I don’t recognize and a place Torontonians don’t believe in.

The reality is that despite the fiscal challenges the city faces as a result of the downloading of provincial social services and transit funding, we have made sound decisions, sometimes difficult ones, that have led to a rejuvenation of Toronto.

We are cleaner, more prosperous and a city where nobody gets left behind.

On Monday, Torontonians have a clear choice to make.

Deputy mayor Joe Pantalone is the only candidate who has consistently worked to build this city and who believes in continuing that work. He’s also the only candidate with a fiscal plan grounded in reality and facts. The other two have never been there when we needed them most.

I voted with my heart and head when I voted for Joe in an advanced poll.

Some people, however, seem afraid to vote for who they want and will instead choose someone they don’t want to stop a candidate they dislike more. I don’t agree with this.

In elections we should support the best candidate.

Look at what happened in Calgary, where after trailing badly in the polls, Naheed Nenshi won the race. Calgarians clearly believe in a diverse, innovative, sustainable city for all and voted for Nenshi.

Torontonians can do the same on Monday.

We need Joe Pantalone to keep building this great city.