Mayor Rob Ford at his annual ‘Ford Fest’ barbeque on Sept. 7, 2012J.P. MOCZULSKI/The Globe and Mail
Mayor Rob Ford, who came to office on a pledge to cut costs, wants to thin the ranks of city managers, and is throwing his support behind a TTC initiative to contract out cleaning jobs.
"Directors, managers, supervisors – we have too many of them here," the mayor told reporters Monday. "I know we can find some efficiencies and I have talked to the city manager about it and he's agreed.
"We've dealt with the unions. We've given the unions a four-year deal, so it's time for senior staff," Mr. Ford said.
The mayor's remarks follow a directive from the city manager to all managers this spring to freeze spending at 2012 levels for next year. The mayor also has said he wants to keep a lid on next year's residential tax increase at 1.75 per cent and to freeze the tax for the following two years.
Against this cost-cutting backdrop, Mr. Ford also praised TTC chair Karen Stintz for a plan to contract out cleaning jobs that is expected to save millions.
"That's what we campaigned on," he said. "I'm glad Karen is carrying the ball on that. Let's hope it gets through. That's what we have to do to save money."
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday threw his support behind the cost-cutting initiative. "As far as I am concerned, we have to look at all areas to find savings and efficiencies," he said.
Councillor Adam Vaughan, a critic of the mayor, said he wants to see details of the proposed cuts.
"Once again it's a slogan without a policy," he said. "Tell me where he wants to cut and why and how and what the effect will be and then we can have a conversation."