John Stall

City councillor Rob Ford certainly has had his moments of questionable conduct over the years, but I think he’s dead on with his claim that councillors don’t need the $53,000 office expense account that goes with the job.

He’s been a stone in the shoe of his colleagues (including the mayor) by continuing to point out that “core” administrative office expenses like paper, pens, stationary, fax machines, computers, telephones, etc. , are provided by the clerks office, in addition to salary money for administrative staff.

He reminded us on the air this morning that councillors make $100,000 a year, which translates into $4,800 a month in take-home pay and that all the business related to the city is done at City Hall, so there is no need to take taxis, limos or additional trips that have in the past been billed back to the tax payer as an “office expense.”

He’s forced council (with help from the media) to come up with a new policy book that attempts to clarify what qualifies as an office expense, but all that it does is tell councillors how to claim the $53,000 within rules instead of without any.

Fords point, and it’s one that we should all be considering, is whether or not the $53,000 that all councillors get as part of the job is actually necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the job.

I’m not a big gambler,  so what I am about to say about being in favour of the Harper government giving the thumbs-up to “sport-booking” in Ontario casinos, is not driven by an addiction that would love to be fed from places other than Las Vegas.

 Vegas is currently the only place where you can legally bet on sporting events other than horse racing, but the Ontario government is seeking a change to the federal criminal code so that casinos in Niagara and Windsor can offer the same - and I say why not?

Sure it’s a form of taxation, maybe on those who can least afford it - so are lottery tickets - but you don’t pay unless you want to play, and no one is forcing anyone to play.  I don’t buy the idea that it’s the government’s role to protect people from themselves and what could end up being the destructive consequences of their actions.  A fool and their money is quickly parted in many ways that range from stupid stock market picks to buying swamp land in Florida.

Sport-booking is available anyway and anyone who wants to wager money on a game can find a bookie to take the bet, or an online venue that is happy and equipped to process a credit card.

I don’t think it’s the government’s role to protect people from themselves, but I do believe it’s the government’s role to protect a healthy economic environmnet from deterioration and to proactively help create one when it has the chance to do so.  If the Feds can help the economy of southwestern Ontario get some “oomph” by being the only place north of Vegas, where those who want to, can bet on sports - then why would they not? Especially after greasing the economic slide by telling the world that Ontario is the ”last” place in which they should invest.