Toronto councillors ended their final meeting of this term with a number of decisions which showed that the election of a new council can't come soon enough.
Last week's debate on having the city purchase land for what is being billed as the world's largest flagpole in North York was reflective of a council that has lost its way.York West Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti had put forward the plan to build the 125-metre flagpole in the Emery Village area. Cost of securing the five-acre site by the city in the Finch Avenue and Hwy. 400 area, and maintenance and erection costs for the pole would be the responsibility of the 2,700 member Emery Village BIA, which has yet to approve the plan estimated at a cost of $8-10 million. For the plan to work, the city will own the land where the flagpole is built, landscape the square and pay for the flagpole. Over a period of about 10 years, the Emery Village BIA will pay back the city for its costs.Not surprisingly, there is far from unanimous support from the BIA for the plan, with one opponent saying business owners would go to court rather than pay the costs for the flagpole.Despite that strong opposition, and concerns expressed by a number of councillors about the plan - council approved negotiations with the owners of the land in the Finch Avenue and Arrow Road area, where the flagpole is expected to stand.Councillors were merciless in their criticism of the plan with Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Norm Kelly calling it the "goofiest idea I've ever seen", and Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson commenting that it was "grandeur that we can't afford."Others joked that the flagpole's erection should be sponsored by Viagra. What's really sad about this issue is that it's not a joke. It was approved.It's yet another example of how council's work has too often been subverted by individual councillors' attempts to build legacy projects, or simply inflate their own egos, while the entire city picks up the tab.If the Emery Village BIA wants to build the world's largest flagpole and celebrate its Canadian pride for all to see - that's wonderful. As long as they pay for it with their own money from the start and don't ask city taxpayers for a dime during any part of this process, we're all in favour. But if the BIA and the local councillor are looking for the city to provide the money upfront with hopes of getting it back within a decade, forget it.This city has greater needs than a flagpole.This flag is an example of a red flag as we head into a fall civic election. Look for candidates who can detail issues of governing - not those who advocate one-off accomplishments.City governments sit for four long years. We want representatives who focus on governing Toronto and not building monuments to themselves.