It's the economy, stupid

Posted by Magda
Even though it wasn't on the table for a decision, after parking the economy was the most popular topic of discussion on budget night.

• Jane Cabral, Neighbourhood Support Coalition: Funding for neighbourhood groups is more important during uncertain economic times, because they do things like helping people buy their kids school supplies and offering breakfast programs.
• Maggie Laidlaw: An arts and culture supervisor will help create jobs in that sector, which are more stable these days than manufacturing jobs.
• Gloria Kovach: Given that people are struggling to pay their taxes, it's not the time to spend money on an arts supervisor.
• Maggie Laidlaw: New sidewalks are important, because more people walk during a recession.
• Bob Bell: The recession of the early 1990s increased the number of people on welfare by 50% in three consecutive years -- so it's not an appropriate time to cut the social services transfer to the county.

Comments

[Paul Atarsus]

Arts jobs are more "stable"??? You've got to be kidding me. This is the sort of backwards thinking that the left has been trying to feed us for years. Newsflash... a strong Arts culture is a RESULT of a strong and affluent society, NOT a CREATOR or DRIVER of one. Until they get that through their thick heads, we're in serious trouble. We need to be putting our priorities in order, and getting people back to work and fullfilling our "must have" lists before spending more money on our "would be nice" lists. Laidlaw has once again got it completely backwards.