"I mean we're talking traditional right-wing government. That's the barbarians at the gate.
"It's unthinkable that we would go back," says Campbell. "I mean he wants to take us back to the 50s."
Campbell says that a vote for the Conservatives will reverse any gains cities have made in getting money for infrastructure from Ottawa.
He says Liberal Leader Martin and NDP Leader Layton were both at a recent meeting of 2,000 mayors and councillors in Edmonton – promising to hand back five cents per litre of federal gas tax money.
He says Harper has promised just three cents a litre, and that Harper didn't even bother to attend the meeting
Campbell isn't alone in his criticism. Toronto Mayor David Miller says while both Martin and Layton have recognized the needs of cities, Harper hasn't.
"In Toronto we have a $235-million backlog just on roads. You know that's to keep what we have now in good repair.
"And Mr. Harper has some time left to change their platform," says Miller. "I hope he does. I hope he reconsiders."
Miller and Campbell have an unlikely ally in Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. The well-known Conservative supporter says the health of cities would deteriorate if Stephen Harper were elected prime minister.
Stumble It!
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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?
Larry Campbell is a left wing nut that likely will never be re-elected as mayor of Vancouver. He even makes NDP'rs shy away from his outlandish pronouncements although he supports the NDP without reserve.
The other mayors making wierd calls are known Liberal supporters.
I work very closely with elected Municipal officials and they all state that the Liberal "pie-in-the-sky" offers are too far in the future to ever be realized.
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Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
The CBC article above specifically states that Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion "the well known conservative supporter says the health of cities would deteriorate if Stephen Harper were elected prime minister."
So all the mayors making "wierd calls" are not all Liberal and what, (if you mean weird, as in strange calls), are they?
I note that the Liberals do not intend to fully implement their plan until 2010.
"Jack Layton and David Miller agreed that the apparently inevitable delay in implementing the gas tax benefit will have major consequences for Canada’s largest city, and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion expressed her definite disappointment." (from citymayors.com/report)
Also from Victoria Times Colonist June 14, 2004.
"Those mayors don't speak for this mayor" Jack Peake, Mayor Lake Cowichan.
"I take exception to this story (the mayor writes),the mayors quoted do not represent the views of all mayors, this one in particular." Jack refers to the loopholes allowing the Liberal government to back out of any promises for Municipal revenue sharing.
Jack also quotes "I would suggest that the history of wasted money of Martin's government would give a clear indication that what is said is not what happens"
Funny how a small town mayor can get to the gist of the Liberal promises easier than his large City counterparts.
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Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
I do like the politician/diaper analogy though. That I find funny ha ha, and not funny weird.