14Jan 2016 by johnastapleton

City of Toronto Budget Deputation: John Stapleton; Scarborough, January 13, 2016: 6:00 p.m.

I am a newly minted senior citizen. I have lived in Scarborough for the past 37 years. I am a proud resident of Scarborough but I see a problem. I see the problem of poverty in Toronto. I think that we can and should do more to eradicate poverty in our city Toronto is the largest and richest city in Canada Our economy comprises almost 11 per cent of Canada’s GDP,  And in recent years Toronto has been ranked: The world's most tax-competitive major city (KPMG Competitive Alternatives 2014: Focus on Tax) The 2014 Intelligent Community of the Year (Intelligent Community Forum) Fourth on Price Waterhouse Coopers’ Cities of Opportunity (PwC, 2014); and The world's most resilient city (Grosvenor Group, 2014)[1] But there is another side to Toronto. Toronto houses Canada’s highest…
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30Mar 2014 by johnastapleton

Doing the BORF: The new world of vacationing Torontonians meeting Americans

I recently went on a vacation cruise to the western Caribbean as the itinerary included Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Grand Cayman – four places I had never visited and wanted to experience. Truth in advertising: this was a luxury cruise with a high concentration of prosperous looking white people and a preponderance of Americans. But I had no idea that I was going to BORF so I started to keep notes on the experience. The qualifications for a BORF  are unique to people who travel from Toronto to another location outside of Canada and who have the chance of running into Americans. A cruise in this sense is ideal. I should also say from the outset that I had no idea I was going to BORF and I can freely…
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17Feb 2014 by johnastapleton

A Train They Call the ‘District Of Scarborough’

(To be sung to the tune: City of New Orleans) Riding on the ‘District of Scarborough’ Union Station, Monday morning rail Thirteen cars, two thousand restless riders Two Conductors; we don’t carry mail All along the southbound odyssey - the train pulls out of Kennedy Rolls past malls and condos made of steel Tanker cars that have no name, freight yards back to work again And megalots of high-end automobiles Good morning, Toronto, how are you? Say, don't you know me? I'm your native son I'm the train they call the ‘District of Scarborough’ I'll be done 10 circuit trips when the day is done Dealing transit plans with Toronto City Council None agree - ain't no one keeping score As the paper war that freezes movin’ forward Feels the…
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01Feb 2014 by johnastapleton

Meanwhile back in Toronto – More Fords to come?

Take a long look at the political structure of Toronto. The reality is that the framework of the city where the mayor gets one vote of 44 will continue to spawn and nurture the Rob Fords of the world. Ford wasn't the first - Mayor Mel who brought in the army for the snow and welcomed the Hell's Angels to the city was the first  - and Ford won't be the last. Mayor Miller in his second term was a very angry man. Remember his one penny campaign to get a slice of the GST - the fist pounding and the explosive exhortations? The problem is that the only type of candidate who appears able to get in now is someone who purports not to go to work for City…
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24Nov 2013 by johnastapleton

Really fast drivers, three Senators, Toronto’s mayor and the emergence of ‘Melford’

In my original blog (http://openpolicyontario.com/when-zero-tolerance-prevails-very-fast-drivers-three-senators-and-torontos-mayor/), I said that Mr. Ford could win the Toronto election next October if he did just one thing: acknowledge that he is now in a world of zero tolerance and he is being judged according to standards by which everyone else is not judged. He must say that he understands the enforcement regimen that is now in place, agree with it, and pull up his socks according to its standards. The reason for this is that his case is now very public (enormously so) and that late and begrudged admission to evidence has made (and will make) his story even more public. And as it appears that there is more evidence to come out, his persona will become even more public and better defined as…
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