Beautiful Golden Crete

Science community sees budget promises as mixed bag
Science and technology industry observers were of two minds about Tuesday’s federal budget, praising its boost to high-tech infrastructure, but questioning the conditions placed on many funding programs and wondering why research grant programs are being cut.

Yes or no to megacity?
At the start of January 1998, Toronto’s six municipal governments were amalgamated into one megacity, but a decade later financial problems still exist. The idea of amalgamation came with promises of huge cost savings, even cuts in property tax, but that never happened. Many blame the amalgamation for financial problems the city still faces today. The Conservative provincial government of Mike Harris promised amalgamation wouldn’t hurt the new city financially. But Toronto’s costs rose fast and revenue didn’t. The promised savings never materialized, nor did those property tax decreases. Harris later said that Toronto failed to make the necessary cuts. But others say Harris failed to realize how expensive such a large government would become. Property tax revenue barely budged, yet the cost of wages, social services and other programs skyrocketed. Over the following years, Toronto sunk deeper and deeper into a financial hole. Toronto now has new tax revenue coming in and it is hoped that this spring the provincial government may once again start paying for the expensive social programs cities were handed at amalgamation. What’s your view? Did amalgamation help or hinder the development of the city? Do you like the new GTA, or would you prefer the old municipalities?

BULUNGULA and THE COFFEE BAY

Junction City Kansas

The southern tip of the Gold Coast….

The Westin New York at Times Square

Byron… & Nimbin!!

Home sweet home…