Toronto delays debate over privatized garbage pickup
The public works chair's move to punt the thorny issue until late 2016 followed release of a staff report.

TheStar.com
Sept. 22, 2015
David Rider

Mayor John Tory’s administration has upset people on both sides of the garbage privatization debate by postponing a council decision, likely until 2017.

Facing unwelcome advice against contracting out garbage collection east of Yonge St., public works chair Councillor Jaye Robinson and allies on public works voted Tuesday to delay the debate until the final months of 2016.

That makes it unlikely a committee recommendation will go to full council before 2017.

Robinson said she was acting on advice from senior city staff “to defer all this” until after contract negotiations with CUPE Local 416 that represents solid waste workers east of Yonge, where city staff still do pickup.

Negotiations are about to start, she said. Their contract expires Dec. 31.

“This keeps the issue alive,” Robinson said in an interview after the vote. “I certainly am a proponent of outsourcing the east end,” she added, calling last term’s outsourcing between the Humber River and Yonge “one of our biggest success stories” saving taxpayers $11 million a year while providing “great” service.

The postponement comes a week after release of a staff report on the issue that was heavily criticized by Robinson, Tory and other members of the mayor’s administration.

Staff concluded privatization may cost more in at least one east-end district, despite trumpeted savings from west-end outsourcing. Also, east-end collection productivity has improved in recent years, lowering potential cost savings. Council should leave the status quo, senior managers argued.

That created a challenge for Tory, who promised during the mayoral election to privatize the remaining garbage pickup because of expected cost savings — a long-held position by rivals Rob and Doug Ford. But after taking office, Tory said staff warned him those savings have been significantly reduced.

“There are a number of unanswered questions in the report including private sector bid costs, which have been assumed and are not tested, and the impact, if any, new collective bargaining agreements could have on the city’s cost figures,” Tory’s office said in a statement after the report’s release.

A Tory spokeswoman said Tuesday that the mayor supported Robinson’s deferral motion.

Sources say Tory allies were hoping to privatize collection in at least part of east Toronto.

CUPE Local 416 representative Dave Hewitt was unhappy with the delay. He had hoped the report would go to council for confirmation that his members are doing a good job and will be able to keep doing so.

The Toronto Taxpayers’ Federation, which has pushed for privatization, also criticized the delay, accusing Tory of blowing an “easy win.” “It is unfortunate this administration is delaying a campaign promise to east end taxpayers and the voters of Scarborough,” coalition president Andrea Micieli said in a statement.

Councillor Rob Ford, who oversaw the most recent privatization and has vowed to make a mayoral comeback in 2018, told CityNews: “Unfortunately I’m not the mayor — I have to wait a few more years — and I’m going to give (Tory) a drumming like he’s never had because I’m sick and tired of the broken promises.”