Toronto Panel Likely To Recommend Selling Toronto Hydro

When Mr. Miller announced the panel last October - it was hastily convened in the bitter fight over his two controversial new taxes approved last year - he flatly ruled out a sale of the provincially regulated utility. None of the panelists, including chairman Blake Hutcheson, president of CB Richard Ellis Ltd., a commercial real estate firm, would comment on the report yesterday. But one source said it is expected to recommend changing the way the city makes decisions, including maintaining stronger control over its vast network of agencies, boards and commissions and its massive real estate portfolio. It is also expected to bolster the city's calls for the province to "upload" certain costs, such as social programs, from local property taxpayers. Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, who led the fight against Mr. Miller's new land-transfer tax and car-registration fee, said he was hopeful the panel would come up with unorthodox ways for the city to save money. ... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080220.wfiscal20/BNStory/National/

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