Today’s Pick: Toronto the backwater?

Posted by Kathryn @ MaRS, August 9th, 2007

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The Economist had some harsh words for Toronto in their July 28, 2007 edition. The venerable UK magazine claims that Toronto’s fiscal struggles coupled with Calgary’s surging economy threaten Toronto’s status as “Canada’s pre-eminent city.” Mayor David Miller, meanwhile, is sternly criticized for attempting to raise new taxes on property and cars instead of pursuing more politically realistic measures like road tolls or congestion charges. The article ends with a stinging historical suggestion: “Splendid to be a city state. But even Venice ended up as a backwater.” Ouch.

Calling Richard Florida: Time for a rebuttal from Toronto’s newest global citizen?



Discussion

  • Kathryn:
    Thanks for this piece.
    You may know that one of the MaRS incubatees is directly working on this issue and has to-date be shunned by the Mayor.
    See the Star's "Congestion takes its toll"

    In a similar but edgier vein: "Even Britain thinks Miller blew it"

    This whole issue of congestion pricing, the brilliant-green cousin of road pricing is about to get much more attention. This entry, "US-DOT’s Pearl Harbor," has been variously lauded or gasped-at by several transportation thought leaders in the US. Both are critically valuable responses.

    Sitting within two floors of you is a Toronto company with a vision and a solution to a world-wide problem. Toronto is not the backwater. Miller's leader-less-ship is.
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Author: Kathryn Fitzgerald

Kathryn provides market intelligence services to MaRS Advisory Services clients and to The Innovations Group at the University of Toronto. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information.

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