City staff warned to shape up or ship out
Posted April 5, 2011 2:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Mayor Rob Ford’s budget chief came out with a strong message for city councillors and staff Tuesday, warning city officials things have changed financially at City Hall, and they had better change with them.
Budget Chief Mike Del Grande refused to mince his words, telling council they had better tighten their fiscal belts, or be prepared to find a new position.
“If people have to leave this organization because they can’t do the job, they will be shown the door,” Del Grande told council.
Facing an almost $800-million budget shortfall in 2012, Del Grande warned councillors every dollar is going to be accounted for, from this point on.
“My message is, not in budget, the answer is no,” Del Grande said. “And everybody on council better get that message.”
The warning comes on the heel of a debate about a pedestrian bridge in Scarborough, which has been delayed for nearly a decade. The project is also expected to cost nearly a million dollars more than expected, which has left Del Grande fuming.
“We just go merrily along our way, we’ll settle this for a million, and that’s okay, we’ll close our eyes to that – can’t do it!” Del Grande said. “Those times are gone.”
Leaked City Hall memos indicate job-cuts are likely in the cards to help balance the budget for next year.
