As the clock winds down on the year that was 2011, here's hoping that next year brings some better behaviour from municipal, provincial and federal politicians on a number of issues of critical importance to Toronto.
With the arrival of 2012, Toronto will have been amalgamated for 14 years. It's time for all city councillors to end the bickering and narrow-mindedness that has them pitting the former Metro Toronto municipalities of Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York, East York, York and Toronto against each other at the council table.The recent example of Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan and Etobicoke North Councillor Doug Ford trading barbs between the "downtown" and the "suburbs" serves no purpose at all. As we said recently, it's the type of thing that has to stop.If we have one wish for 2012 on that file, it's that we start acting and speaking as one Toronto. This united front will bring us great benefits from upper levels of government. Right now it's too easy for them to dismiss our needs as we're spending too much time bickering among ourselves.Speaking with one voice is especially important on the transit file.We have the province and Metrolinx going one way, and Mayor Rob Ford's administration seemingly going another.That doesn't work.The mayor and Metrolinx have to get on the same page in 2012. It's too easy for the federal and provincial governments to slip out of their responsibilities to properly fund public transit in Toronto when we have a mayor seeking private-sector funding for a Sheppard subway extension that seems unlikely to be built anytime in the near future and is at odds with previously approved transit plans.Ideally, the resolution to the transit situation is for provincial politicians to step up (especially those Liberals representing Toronto) and make this issue a priority. Strong voices from residents and politicians are needed as the Toronto transit system is decades behind. Failure to deal with this issue continues to have a hugely negative impact on quality of life and business in Toronto, and we need to stop putting it off.With the new year's arrival, the clock is now not just ticking on the 2015 Pan Games in Toronto - it's booming.If we're not careful, not only Toronto but the entire province is going to be humiliated by making a mess of these games. And that's a scenario that will kill any Olympic chances once and for all.Again, the key is political leadership. This coming year needs to be the one in which Torontonians start to get excited about the Pan Am Games, along with seeing the necessary infrastructure projects started. Having a prime minister, premier and mayor all showing some enthusiasm for the Games would be a great place to start in building that public excitement.