This is to indicate that Toronto does not have adequate analytical human capital present to properly analyze the entire nature of this environmental economic disaster.
Summary and Conclusion
The unsanitary and unhealthy environmental impact rendered from discontinued municipal sanitation services for a metropolis the size of Toronto is a common problem. Throughout the world, there are cities and urban centers with no landfill space and that lack a comprehensive sanitation pickup and removal system. Toronto is not alone in facing fiscal constraints against the operating budget but still must weigh the cost against the benefits of renewing "grandfathered" contracts from old administrations. If the city allows itself to be crippled by the demands of a powerful union then the constituency will be forced to pay more for services that a strong Mayor/Council would have negotiated for.
To avoid a disaster a 3rd time around, the city must create a contingency plan that enables trash removal and sanitation services if they choose not to enact a competitive bid process resulting in another labor strike. The contingency plan is relatively simple as it allows the city to hire replacement sanitation workers to bring trash to designated receptacle...
Such a plan hinders the negotiating power of the union due to the ability of the city to continue its operations unabated. To continue operating without a contingency plan after the 2002 sanitation debacle exhibits a lack of long-term strategic planning from the city.
There must be a strategic planning document created by the Mayor and signed by the Council at every election cycle. The plan must be comprehensive and forecast the next 10 to 20 years and describe where the city wants to be, what it needs to get there, what it has now, and what it has to do (or get) to reach its goals. The plan should be updated as new Mayor/Council is brought in and if changes to the direction of the plan are desired, a public vote must be cast with 3/5 as the majority for override.
References
Charlie Gillis and Kate Lunau. Toronto stinks. July 22, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/22/toronto-stinks/2/
Chaz Miller. Garbage & Health. July 1st, 2003 Retrieved from: http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_garbage_health/
Lee, Jones-Lee. Impact of Municipal and Industrial Non-Hazardous Waste Landfills on Public Health and the Environment: An Overview. Retrieved from: http://www.gfredlee.com/cal_risk.htm
