All Entries in the "Pundits" Category

NP Election Panel: Pantalone’s Lonely Food Plan

The National Post’s Municipal Election Panel takes a closer look at mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone’s plan to increase “food prosperity”:
“SELLEY: If Mayor Joe wants more food grown in Toronto, then he should loosen whatever restrictions there currently are on it and let the communities sort it out. Would that happen? Please. There isn’t [...]

Sa: Ignoring The Youth Vote

The Sun’s Rachel Sa talks with mayoral candidate James DiFiore, who is focusing his bid on engaging  younger voters:
“The general consensus is that politicians don’t want the youth to vote. If they did, they would talk to us. If they did, then guys like Rob Ford would be campaigning at keg parties and [...]

Persichilli: Toronto’s Future, Not Ford’s Past, Should Be The Issue

The Star’ Angelo Persichilli thinks that there are much more important issues to discuss than Rob Ford’s colourful past:
“We want to emulate Broadway and Times Square but we also want people living downtown enjoying their backyards and bike lanes. We brag about Toronto as the financial heart of the country but we refuse [...]

Goldstein: Rob Ford’s Best Of Enemies

Lorrie Goldstein of the Toronto Sun guesses that the source of recent attacks on Ford added extra fuel to his campaign:
“Having left-wing councillors answering hypothetical questions about Ford as mayor two months before the vote suggests they think it’s inevitable — demoralizing opponents.
As for legitimate concerns Ford won’t be able to work well [...]

Blizzard: ‘Ford Factor’ Goes Provincial

The Sun’s Christina Blizzard thinks that support for Rob Ford shows a wider discontent that has set in across the province:
“When his opponents throw mud at Ford, his supporters pick it up and throw it right back. It sticks to his opponents, not to Ford.   People are tired of platitudes. They’re sick of [...]

Gee: Rob Ford Can’t Take Full Credit For Woodbine Live

The Globe’s Marcus Gee investigates the assertion from mayoral candidate Rob Ford that he played a central role in approving the massive Woodbine Live project:
“To get the deal done, Woodbine worked closely with the mayor’s office and city departments on issues such as zoning, local job creation and a proposed tax deferral. City [...]

Nickle: Comparing Miller To His Antithesis – Ford

Toronto Community News scribe David Nickle examines the stark difference a Mayor Rob Ford would be different from a Mayor David Miller:
“For instance, when Miller said this about the debate over Toronto’s new zoning bylaw – a giant document that literally shapes the future of the city on a block-by-block level, he [...]

Warmington: City Hall Arrogance Tough To Stomach

The Sun’s Joe Warmington is thoroughly displeased with incumbent councillors and their attitute towards mayoral candidate Rob Ford and those who support him:
“Damn the people and what they vote for.   The leftist gang of high-spending, achieve-nothing, zero-tolerence, tax-people-to-the-max socialists in power for the past seven years are flailing around on the dock like [...]

Stall: Take A “Mayoral Race” Deep Breath

680 News’ John Stall puts the latest polling numbers into perspective and is confident the numbers in October will look quite different than they do now:

“Polls are snapshots in time. With apologies to my professional polling pals, survey samples of under 500 people are marginally accurate.  People in the city of Toronto don’t really [...]

Goar: Voters In The Dark About Finances

The Star’s Carol Goar notes that it is difficult for anyone to navigate city finances and asks which of the mayoral candidates will (finally) seriously address the issue:
“George Smitherman says he can improve services and save money without road tolls or asset sales. It is a matter of “focusing on the city’s core [...]

Blatchford: Let Them Eat Snacks

The Globe’s Christie Blatchford watches the last council meeting of the current term and offers her observations:
“Honest to Pete, to the bitter end, to the last gasp, to their collective dying breath, this council remains in tone at a whopping disconnect from their voters.
Outside the council chambers, a revolt of sorts may [...]

Hepburn: ‘Politics Of Anger’ Powers Toronto Mayoral Race

The Toronto Star’s Bob Hepburn believes anger is the primary motivating factor in this year’s election:
“The big problem with the politics of anger is that voters often elect politicians who aren’t ready to govern and even if angry voters manage to “kick the bums out,” there is no guarantee things will get better [...]

Goldstein: ‘Liberal’ T.O. Finally Is PO’d

The Sun’s Lorrie Goldstein thinks that voters in Toronto (and Ontario) have had enough and may be ready to send incumbents packing:
“Anyone across Canada who considers Toronto a liberal (and Liberal) la-la land filled with sheep-like residents meekly accepting every new tax imposed on them, hasn’t been paying attention to its race for [...]

Blatchford: The Logic Behind Rob Ford’s Bid To Derail The ‘Gravy Train’

Columnist Christie Blatchford touts the tale of Sandra Bussin’s infamous call into the John Tory show as evidence as to why mayoral candidate Rob Ford may be doing so well:
“Mr. Tory reluctantly asked her about her earlier performance and Ms. Bussin grudgingly admitted “I should have said who I was” and pointed out [...]

Kuitenbrouwer: Toronto’s Mayoral Race Isn’t Over Yet

The Post’s Peter Kuitenbrouwer ntes that like the 2003 mayoral race, many things can change between now and October:
“After Labour Day, as voters bother themselves to study the various campaign platforms, other candidates have a chance to climb in the polls. George Smitherman, for example, has spoken eloquently about improving the culture [...]

Mallick: Rob Ford As Mayor? Are We Nuts?

The Star’s Heather Mallick is wondering what has come over the voters of Toronto in the wake of recent polling that has Rob Ford with a sizeable lead:
“We all knew him in high school. He was our gym teacher, the kind who laughed when the slender shy boys got their hair entangled in [...]

Gurney: Ford Cracks Toronto’s Left-Wing Armour

In the National Post, Matt Gurney writes that Rob Ford’s is seemingly immune to recent scandal because voters have other concerns:
“The only thing that makes sense is what’s been said again and again and will be repeated here now — taxpayers, even the infinitely apathetic, dopily progressive Toronto variety, have simply had enough. [...]