What’s the difference between Gay Pride and national pride? In Toronto, one goes on in spite of the strike, and the other gets cancelled. Guess which one got the axe? If you guessed Canada Day, that would be correct!
Pride Week is one of Toronto’s most famous, most profitable festivals. It brings people in from all over the world for a huge party and one massive, event-ending parade. While a huge boon for Toronto business owners and tax revenues, packing a million people onto downtown streets obviously results in a lot of litter. Normally, that would be no big deal, and in years past, the city is quickly and efficiently returned to pristine condition. Well…as close as Toronto ever comes, anyway.
This year, though, with city workers out on strike, the massive cleanup job fell to the city’s non-union work force and a handful of private contractors. Along the way, union members picketed and otherwise interfered with the private workers, spouting the usual drivel about non-union members doing the jobs the union members refuse to do. Nonetheless, despite the poor weather and the pickets, the streets were swept, the trash collected, and another successful Pride Week was brought to a close.
Canada Day, though – not so lucky.
[More]
I had the unfortunate opportunity of being in Paris during a garbage strike. It happens to the best of cities. Toronto has just joined the big leagues of civil administration. Unions and their apologists (ie Mayors and councillors) are not elected to serve the people – their duty is to carry the “garbage” for unions. Regular people should move to communities with private garbage contractors and leave the TO to the “brothers and sisters” of CUPE. Where is the health unit in all this – talk about dereliction of duty. They have no problem shutting down hot dog vendors but a union!
Direct Quote of the Day: “Where is the health unit in all this – talk about dereliction of duty. They have no problem shutting down hot dog vendors but a union!”
A beauty
The big difference is that Pride is a non-city event that has traditionally used private garbage contractors. Technically, even Pride was at a deficit of workers, although as I mentioned before the Pride volunteers + private contractors apparently did a better job than the union.
Saw a news report this afternoon on CTV that indicated this could go on until August.
Glad I don’t live there.
If it’s any help, the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa were excellent!!
Their’s no pride celebrating the two human genders not being together.