January 7, 2015 by admin

Council to consider privatized garbage pickup in the east end

Mayor Tory wants ‘the facts’

Toronto, City council will look at privatizing garbage on Toronto’s east side, thanks to a request by Coun. Jaye Robinson on Tuesday.

Robinson added an item asking for study of garbage collection east of Yonge Street. The report is due back in April.

Private garbage collection west of Yonge Street was frequently claimed as a victory for the city under former Mayor Rob Ford. During the election, Ford vowed to privatize the rest of the city.

Robinson requested the study seemingly with the approval of Mayor John Tory.

I stand in favour,” Tory said Tuesday, “of the best service for the least amount of money possible.”

Tory said he was not sure whether that would be under city-run garbage collection or through a private company. He said he would wait for the report to decide.

“The people of Toronto will respect me as mayor if I make the decisions on my own behalf based on the facts,” he continued.

A representative of CUPE Local 416, a union that represents thousands of city workers, said the report coming out close to contract negotiations was worrying.

“We’re always worried…about our members losing their jobs,” said Dave Hewitt, vice president of the Toronto Civic Employees Union.

He said the union wants to see a cost analysis of the labour it takes to pick up garbage.

The current contract for garbage pickup east of Yonge Street in the city ends on December 31, 2015.