Alan Redway received friends and supporters Saturday as he signed copies of his book Governing Toronto, Bringing Back The City That Worked. He spoke briefly and told those present he wishes to create a political groundswell in Toronto to have the provincial government review the effectiveness of the present structure of the provincial capital. Mr. Redway, a former mayor of East York and one-time MP for what is now the riding of Don Valley East, said that the present “mega-City” created in 1998 has not delivered the savings which were given as the reason for the amalgamation of the six municipalities of the then Metropolitan Toronto. It is to this model that Mr. Redway looks in his desire to create a “political groundswell” He noted that before amalgamation the provincial government reviewed the Toronto government every ten years. He noted that former premier Dalton McGuinty said this would be like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. He also recalled that Kathleen Wynne was among the most vigorous opponents of amalgamation 17 years ago but wondered whether by now she might have “toothpaste reverberating in her ears.” Mr Redway’s own review of how Toronto works told him that City Councillors were burdened with agendas that inundated them in local business from distant wards and distracted from metropolitan issues. He recalled the amalgamation of Montreal in 2000 and subsequent decision to restore local independence to separate cities. He noted community councils. Amalgamated Toronto started with six in 1998 but that was shrunk to four. Among those present at the Walter Stewart Library on Memorial Park Drive was Ward 29 Councillor Mary Fragedakis.
