Free nurses?

[Shwa]

From the Star

No thanks, says Mayor Rob Ford

At first glance, I thought this story had some to do with clemency, but so. It has more to do with Rob Ford's truly bizarre thinking. Heck, even his supporters are baffled by this.

Mayor Rob Ford has rejected the province’s offer to hire two public health nurses for Toronto at no cost to the city, drawing rebukes from both the provincial health minister and a loyal council ally.

Ford’s Monday decision marked the second time he has opposed a provincial health initiative that would not have required any city funding. In February, he was the lone dissenter in a 44-1 vote to accept provincial money for an effort to encourage residents to be screened for HIV and syphilis.

One of the nurses would have worked with new immigrants on disease prevention, said Councillor John Filion, chair of the health board. Another would have worked in a poor neighbourhood to promote health services.

“It’s a bizarre situation, it’s completely unprecedented, and I can only assume it’s based on one of two things: complete ignorance of the facts of the situation, or a deliberate case of using ideology to trample on the most vulnerable in society,” Filion said.

[Shakeyhands]

Huh???? I'd enjoy reading one of Ford's supporters explanation of this.

[scribblet]

I don't live in Toronto, but I think the reasoning is that should (and it's likely) the province stop paying for this in the future and or download costs back to the City, the City will be on the hook for $170,000 a year. So, if Ford where still Mayor and axed the jobs, he would be portrayed as an unthinking (put your epitaph here) for getting rid of people who help poor people with HiV etc. etc.

[guyser]

...complete ignorance of the facts

Rob Ford in a nutshell.

Maybe the Health Nurse will tell him to put down the donut, and Robby doesnt wanna cry.

[Oleg Bach]

Whether you loath the poor or the sick ...it's your buisness...but when it comes to mercy..through the help of nurses - You can not get personal with the needy - a society is judged by how well you treat your weakest members...For instance Ford is not big on the whole gay day thing - BUT if a person who is gay is ill and suffering - care and mercy must prevail....Darwinism might be part of Ford's bully boy mindset - I hope not.

[Shwa]

I don't live in Toronto, but I think the reasoning is that should (and it's likely) the province stop paying for this in the future and or download costs back to the City, the City will be on the hook for $170,000 a year. So, if Ford where still Mayor and axed the jobs, he would be portrayed as an unthinking (put your epitaph here) for getting rid of people who help poor people with HiV etc. etc.

So you are saying Mayor Ford's response is one of simple optics?

[Boges]

There is only one taxpayer.

[Smallc]

There is only one taxpayer.

Yes, his name is Jim.

[treehugger]

From the Star

No thanks, says Mayor Rob Ford

At first glance, I thought this story had some to do with clemency, but so. It has more to do with Rob Ford's truly bizarre thinking. Heck, even his supporters are baffled by this.

I guess the Mayor is too smart to get involved with Mr E Health,the big crook. How do you know that two nurses are needed?

Anyone that believes anything that comes from the Star,needs to read between the lines.

[August1991]

There is only one taxpayer.

Exactly.

From Toronto Star link above:

“Who is going to be on the hook for it once the provincial funding goes? We are,” he said. “We have enough people in public health right now.”

Ford is two steps ahead of the game.

[Shwa]

Exactly.

From Toronto Star link above:

Ford is two steps ahead of the game.

So essentially pulling a declaration out of one's ass passes as "two steps ahead of the game" now? That's problematic.

Where in the article does it say that once the funding ends for the two public health nurses, that the City will be on the hook for their salary?

Filion called Ford’s fear “nonsense.” The nurses would simply cease their work if the provincial funding ever expired, he said.

Is Mayor Ford aware of some secret clause that wasn't passed on to the Council Budget Committee and not made available to other City staff and councillors?

Are you aware of such a clause too?

[Boges]

Good luck trying to lay off nurses of any kind without being accused of supporting people dying in the streets.

[Shady]

It’s a bizarre situation, it’s completely unprecedented

I agree that it's unprecedented. Usually politicians jump at the chance at so-called free money. Despite what the long term consequences are. Good for Rob Ford.

This is so obviously an election gimmick for McGuinty to use in the upcoming campaign. Because the province isn't going to pay for these nurses forever. The city will have to takeover the costs, or axe the nurses.

And I guess I must have missed it, but did the Liberals solve the provincial deficit problem? They must have if they're offering to pay for new positions within municipalities.

Not to mention the services the nurses would be helping with are already provided. The headline should have read "McGuinty offers to pay for nurses for a while so that he can brag about it during his re-election campgain, despite record provincial deficits."

[Shwa]

I agree that it's unprecedented. Usually politicians jump at the chance at so-called free money. Despite what the long term consequences are. Good for Rob Ford.

But what are the long term consequences? That doesn't appear to be apparent anywhere.

This is so obviously an election gimmick for McGuinty to use in the upcoming campaign. Because the province isn't going to pay for these nurses forever. The city will have to takeover the costs, or axe the nurses.

I have to agree. The problem is, gimmick or not, what does that have to do with a Mayor refusing to provide extra services to his citizens at no cost in his budget and no agreement that when the contract ends the City will have to assume the costs.

There is this assumption, but nothing substantial to back up the assumption.

[Shady]

But what are the long term consequences? That doesn't appear to be apparent anywhere.

Really? Has the province agreed to fund them forever? Anyways, it's all a political stunt preparing for an upcoming election. The Liberls know their in trouble in the Toronto area.

And again, I hadn't realized McGuinty solved the provincial deficit problem. I wasn't aware he was in a position to be throwing money around, and promising municipalies free services. Gee, what a coinsidence an election is coming up.

I'm glad Ford is thinking long term, and not falling for a cheap political ploy.

[Shwa]

Really? Has the province agreed to fund them forever?

Are you in possession of some secret information - that not even the City Budget Committee has - that says that the nursing contracts are "forever" and that after a period of time the City must bear the costs "forever?"

Or are you making the same irrational assumption that has even baffled some of Mayor Ford's allies? I am betting on the irrational assumption, but will take a cite or some evidence that the City will have to bear the costs - if you can produce it.

And again, I hadn't realized McGuinty solved the provincial deficit problem. I wasn't aware he was in a position to be throwing money around, and promising municipalies free services. Gee, what a coinsidence an election is coming up.

No one else has "solved the ...deficit problem" either.

I'm glad Ford is thinking long term, and not falling for a cheap political ploy.

And what "long term" is that? An assumption that public nursing contracts are "forever?"

[Oleg Bach]

Free...we all like that word....free lunch...free trade - free love - free democratic election - Free! I an real big on the free thing...everything should be free.

[cybercoma]

Sure. Why not cut the nurses when they don't cost the city anything, rather than actually having an argument that they don't fit the budget IF it's ever downloaded to the city? Makes a lot of sense.

[Oleg Bach]

Sure. Why not cut the nurses when they don't cost the city anything, rather than actually having an argument that they don't fit the budget IF it's ever downloaded to the city? Makes a lot of sense.

theatre.

[Shwa]

theatre.

or circus.