1997–2000

Following the amalgamation of Toronto, Miller was elected to the new Toronto City Council in the 1997 election, winning one of the two seats in Ward 19 High Park. He was appointed to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) after the election, and became a prominent ally of TTC chair Howard Moscoe.^[13] He was also appointed to lead a twelve-member committee that studied the transition to amalgamated municipal services, and successfully advocated that Toronto City Hall rather than Metro Hall to be the permanent seat of the new government.^[14] Miller later served on a three-member committee that recommended changes to the municipal ward boundaries.^[15]

Miller issued a formal apology on behalf of the TTC in June 1999, following complaints about a subway advertisement by the Toronto police union that some believed depicted Hispanics as criminals.^[16] The following year, he argued that the union's controversial "Operation True Blue" telemarketing campaign was creating a climate of intimidation for Toronto residents.^[17] Both Miller and his wife claimed that they had received threatening telephone calls during the 2000 municipal election, after the police union listed his home telephone number in a campaign advertisement.^[18]

Miller became known as an advocate for waterfront parklands during his time on council. He supported several aspects of a 2000 report from Robert Fung of the Toronto Waterfront Task Force, while criticizing the proposal to sell parkland near Exhibition Place for private development.^[19] He also opposed plans to construct a condominium near Toronto's High Park within his ward, instead supporting the construction of affordable housing for low-income residents.^[20]

Toronto's existing Keele Valley Landfill would reach capacity by 2002. Miller strongly opposed a plan by Mayor Mel Lastman to ship the city's garbage to the Adams Mine in Northern Ontario, which was ultimately voted down by council. The city instead sent its trash to Carleton Farms Landfill.^[21]

2000–2003

Following electoral redistribution, Miller was re-elected in 2000 over fellow councillor Bill Saundercook in Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park. He was re-appointed to the TTC and sought election as its chair, but was passed over in favour of Brian Ashton.^[22] In 2001, he expressed concern that the Wheel-Trans bus service for the disabled might be contracted out to the private sector.^[23]

Miller won the unanimous support of his colleagues in July 2001 for a motion requesting that the federal government approve the transfer of gasoline-tax revenues to Toronto's public transit system.^[24] He later suggested that Toronto's building revenues could be put toward priority spending rather than being stored in reserve accounts, arguing that the city's real estate boom would allow council to defer transit hikes and provide programs for children and the homeless.^[25] He was also a leading voice in exposing Toronto's MFP computer leasing scandal in 2001 and 2002, bringing to light several questionable lobbying practices at city hall.^[26]

As chair of the city's working group on immigrant and refugee issues, Miller introduced a mentorship program making it easier for recent immigrants to gain work experience in Toronto.^[27]

Miller was given an A+ grade and named the best councillor by Toronto Life magazine in November 2000 for his work on council.^[28] In April 2002, the Toronto Environmental Alliance awarded him an "A" grade for his work on the TTC.^[29]

Mayor Lastman and Miller had an adversarial relationship on council. This was exemplified during a May 2002 debate when Lastman yelled at Miller, "You will never be mayor of this city because you say stupid and dumb things!" Miller later remarked that the exchange was what encouraged him to run for mayor. Despite being council opponents, Lastman attended the funeral for Miller's mother.^[30]

Miller later became the most prominent opponent of Lastman's plan to build a $22 million bridge to the Toronto Island Airport. Supporters of the bridge argued that it would eliminate one of the world's shortest ferry rides, make airline service more efficient, and provide a financial benefit to the city. Miller argued that the bridge would prevent the city from revitalizing its waterfront, and asserted that the proposed deal put the interests of developers and lobbyists ahead of the public. The bridge became a major issue when he ran for mayor during the 2003 campaign.^[31]

Toronto City Centre Airport Bridge

Soon after his election, Miller led the council to reverse its support for the Toronto City Centre Airport Bridge. He argued that the bridge was detrimental to the regional environment, was unwanted by most local residents, and stood in the way of a more comprehensive renewal of the waterfront economy. Supporters of the bridge argued that it would make airline service more efficient, and provide a financial benefit. The vote, held on December 3, 2003, was 32-12 in favour of withdrawal.^[43] Afterwards, the federal government announced that it would withdraw its support for the project.^[44] There were subsequent threats of legal action against the City by the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and developer Robert Deluce, but these were settled in 2005 when the federal government agreed to pay $35 million in compensation.

The federal payment was controversial for both supporters and opponents of Miller's administration. Liberal MP Tony Ianno defended it as providing fair compensation to legitimate claimants, and saying that it invalidated Miller's pledge to cancel the bridge without incurring further expense.^[45] Miller's allies, including NDP leader Jack Layton, argued that the payout was overly generous, and did not reflect the true costs of cancellation.^[46] Shortly after the settlement, Miller announced that he would seek the repayment of $27 million in back taxes from the Port Authority to the city.^[47]

David Miller at the opening for the Quay to the City.

Airport expansion

In early 2006, Robert Deluce announced the creation of a company called Porter Airlines that would start a commuter service at the Island Airport, with the planes built at Bombardier's Downsview plant. It would provide travelers with direct flights to Toronto's city centre, which Pearson International is currently unable to offer, as it is located 30 km away. Opponents of expansion argued that increased services would result in greater noise pollution for downtown residents, as well as preventing other economies from flourishing in the waterfront region. Miller argued that the city may soon have to face the choice of "an industrial or revitalized waterfront".^[48] Some supporters of expansion have suggested this is a false dichotomy, and have argued that expansion can be integrated with a larger revitalization plan.^[49] Deluce's proposal won support from both business interests and Canadian Auto Workers leader Buzz Hargrove, who said it would create new jobs for workers in the region.^[50] A Toronto Star report from early February 2006 indicated most Toronto residents opposed expansion.^[51]

In late September 2006, it was reported that Robert Deluce's REGCO (the parent company of Porter Airlines) received $20 million of the $35 million paid by the federal government. This payment assisted Deluce in starting his new airline, and opponents have charged that it was for all intents and purposes a federal subsidy. Miller described the payout as "totally improper".^[52]

Toronto Port Authority (TPA)

The bridge and airport debates are reflective of a more general division between Miller's administration and the TPA, the federal body created by former Liberal MP Dennis Mills that controls the Toronto Island Airport.^[53] Miller called for the TPA to be either eliminated or significantly reformed, and has argued that more oversight powers should be granted to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp., which is managed by all three levels of government. Miller himself joined the TWRC as a voting member in 2006.^[54]

The Harper government announced in May 2006 that it would conduct a review of the Port Authority, and scrutinize past decisions related to the bridge project. Former deputy minister of justice Roger Tassé was named to oversee the review. Miller described himself as "cautiously optimistic", although he later found it "very regrettable and very worrying" that federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon appointed five members of the Port Authority executive before the report was complete.^[55] When the Tassé Report was released in November 2006, it defended the Port Authority's decision to sign a bridge contract just before the 2003 election, and described the $35 million payout to DeLuce as "reasonable". Miller dismissed the document as "not worth the paper it is written on", while MP Olivia Chow referred to it as a "total whitewash" and accused the Conservative government of doing a "complete about face" on the issue.^[56]

Expo 2015

In April 2005, Miller encouraged council to begin work on a bid to host the Expo 2015 world fair. He argued that the event would assist the city's plans for waterfront renewal, and would "show Toronto to the world". Council voted 37-2 to launch a bid in May 2006.^[57] The bid collapsed in November 2006, when the federal, provincial and municipal governments failed to reach agreement on who would cover potential losses. Miller refused to blame either level of government for the failed bid, although councillor Brian Ashton argued that the province was mostly to blame.^[58]

Power plant

Miller and former TWRC chair Robert Fung criticized the provincial government's plan to build a large power plant in Toronto's waterfront area, and urged the province to build a smaller facility in its place. Then Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty argued that the plant would be necessary to meet Toronto's energy needs.^[59]

Other investments

In October 2005, Miller announced $70 million in waterfront investments over five years, dedicated toward new boardwalks, promenades, public places and related attractions.^[60] HtO, Toronto's first urban beach, was started in late 2005.^[61]

Police budget

After assuming office, Miller became involved in the long-standing and polarizing debates over Toronto's police budget, the city's largest single expenditure. The city had previously approved several large increases for the police during Mel Lastman's tenure as mayor.^[116] The force's 2004 request was for $691.4 million, an increase of $57 million from the previous year.^[117] Municipal budget chief David Soknacki initially requested that the police cut $14.2 million from their request, a figure which Chief of Police Julian Fantino argued would jeopardize essential services.^[118] After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate, the council voted 40-5 on April 21, 2004, to approve a police budget of $679.1 million.^[119]

Police spending has increased by $117 million under Miller's administration, and 450 new officers have been put on the streets.^[120] In November 2006, Miller stood with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty to announce tougher bail conditions for persons accused of gun crimes. Miller and McGuinty both support Harper's plan for a "reverse-onus" provision, in which persons accused of gun crimes will be required to demonstrate why they should not be held in custody before a trial.^[121] Harper has rejected Miller's call for a ban on handguns.^[122]

Later in the year, Miller became involved in a labour dispute between the Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Association. The board, led by councillor Pam McConnell, wanted to save revenue by clawing back existing rates of retention pay and eliminating lunch-hour pay for officers on inactive duty during compressed shifts.^[123] The police association argued that the proposals would cause an exodus of officers and result in lower pay for officers working compressed schedules. After a series of acrimonious meetings, negotiations broke down and the association entered a work-to-rule campaign by refusing to patrol or hand out fines.^[124]

During the course of this dispute, the association printed full-page advertisements in the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun asking Miller to become personally involved through his role as a board member.^[125] It also issued an open letter which asked if Miller wanted to be remembered "as the mayor who was tough on crime, or the mayor who was tough on cops".^[126] On October 31, Miller informed the media that he was working to bring both sides together.^[127] A tentative deal was signed in early November, with reports that board had compromised on retention pay. One published report suggests that Ralph Lean, a leading Miller fundraiser, played an instrumental role in ending the dispute through private negotiations with former association head Craig Bromell.^[128]

Police Chief

In June 2004, the deadlocked Toronto Police Services Board voted not to renew Fantino's contract as chief. The next month, city council rejected a motion from Fantino's supporters which sought to overturn the decision. Miller's position was that a full council debate on the matter would have violated the Police Services Act.^[129] Miller's refusal to allow a debate drew criticism from the Toronto Sun who ran a cartoon comparing Miller to Adolf Hitler. (The paper's editor apologized after Miller and the Canadian Jewish Congress condemned the cartoon.)^[130]

Former councillor Rob Davis led a protest march in support of Fantino.^[131] Some journalists and Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara, whose government shortly afterwards appointed Fantino as Commissioner of Emergency Management, speculated that Miller played an influential behind-the-scenes role in the board's decision not to renew Fantino's contract. Miller denied this, saying that he would have preferred the board to reserve any decision until September.^[132]

In early 2005, Miller argued that Fantino's replacement as the police chief should revamp the city's scheduling practices. He argued that the existing system was designed for the convenience of officers living outside of Toronto, and should be revised to permit more officers on the streets during important periods.^[133] The following month, he unexpectedly sided with the Toronto Police Association against the Toronto Police Services Board in opposing mandatory drug testing for officers.^[134]

In March 2005, Miller asked of the Police Services Board that he be granted a participatory role in the selection of the next police chief. He argued that he could provide "a voice that represents all Torontonians rather than that of a particular stakeholder", and said that he would recuse himself from formal deliberations and the final decision. Board member Case Ootes responded that Miller's request amounted to political interference, and said there was "some contradiction" between the request and Miller's earlier refusal to engage in public debate over Fantino's removal. The board turned down Miller's request. By way of compromise, he was allowed to see the board's shortlist of candidates and propose interview questions for applicants.^[135]

Fantino was succeeded on a temporary basis by Mike Boyd, a retired deputy chief who had worked closely with Miller when the latter was still a councillor.^[136] In April 2005, the board chose Bill Blair as Fantino's permanent replacement. There was some media speculation that the mayor's office would have preferred Boyd for the position, though Miller denied this.^[137] In an effort to move beyond previous hostilities, Miller awarded Fantino with the Key to the City on April 14, 2005. During the ceremony, Miller described Fantino as "a man of integrity who has done tremendous work to help keep Toronto safe."^[138]

Miller indicated that he would take a seat on the Police Services Board halfway through his first term, and replaced Ootes during the city's mid-term shuffle of positions in May 2005. Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone indicated that Ootes was replaced because his right-wing policy views were inconsistent with the aims of Miller's administration.^[139]

Anti-crime measures

In February 2004, Miller introduced an anti-crime package highlighted by increased community outreach programs and job opportunities for at-risk youth. He also appointed Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry to head a panel on gun-related crime in the city.^[140] Fantino described Miller's plan as "holistic", and gave it his support.^[141] Some councillors expressed concern that the measures would not be effective against serious criminals, and Etobicoke councillor Doug Holyday suggested that Miller should instead lobby the federal government for tougher laws.^[142] Nonetheless, council unanimously approved Miller's plan on March 1, 2004.^[143]

After a series of gang-related shootings in summer 2005, Miller argued that lax American gun laws were creating unsafe conditions in Toronto. He noted that half the firearms in Toronto originated in America.^[144] He also announced that most of a $4.3 million police budget surplus would go toward hiring 150 new officers. He had previously opposed hiring large numbers of new officers when campaigning for mayor, at a time when gang-related shootings in the city were fewer and less pronounced.

Some journalists noted similarities between Miller's revised policy and that proposed by John Tory in 2003.^[145] Miller also called upon Toronto's business leaders to target street crime by providing jobs for unemployed youth; one year later, he was able to report increased hirings in both the public and private sectors.^[146] Some councillors, including Michael Thompson, suggested that Miller waited too long before reacting to reports of increased violence.^[147]

Corruption

In April 2004, a small number of Toronto officers were charged with aiding figures connected to the Hells Angels biker gang.^[148] Shortly thereafter, Miller was overheard saying "Is your police force in jail? Mine is." in a private aside to the lord mayor of London, who was in Toronto to announce a new partnership between the cities. Miller explained that he made the comment in order to introduce the scandal to his guest, following an awkward press scrum which the Lord Mayor walked away from after several questions about the local controversy. He later apologized, saying "the allegations are serious and I shouldn't have referred to them with humour". After the mayor's initial comment, Fantino was quoted on the CP24 program The Chief as saying, "I feel like someone has driven a stake through my heart". He later accepted Miller's apology.^[149]

Immigration

In February 2006, the Toronto Police Services Board unanimously supported a policy to have officers refrain from asking witnesses and victims of crime about their immigration status. The purpose of this policy change was to ensure that illegal immigrants will not be intimidated from reporting serious crimes to the police. Both Miller and Blair supported the policy.^[150]

Crime

Miller and Blair also opposed efforts by the Guardian Angels vigilante group to establish a base in Toronto.^[151] Their opposition failed to stop the Angels, who have since initiated patrols in the city.

A poll taken by Ipsos-Reid in October 2005 showed that the mayor, council, police and judges all received low to middling grades from the Toronto public in their handling of increased gang activity. The poll gave Police Chief Bill Blair and the Toronto Police Services a C average grade, followed by community leaders (C-), Miller (D+), city council (D), the Attorney General of Ontario (D), and the judges and justices of the Peace (D).^[152]

Garbage disposal

When Miller was elected mayor, Toronto's garbage had for several years been shipped to Carleton Farms Landfill in the U.S. state of Michigan, through a contract with the firm Republic Services. This arrangement was strongly criticized by politicians in both Michigan and Ontario, citing the undesirability and accidents of trucks passing through.^[162] Opponents argued that it would not be sustainable in the long term, with U.S. politicians lobbying to close off the border to garbage exports, while the Southwestern Ontario Trash coalition of cities voiced concerns that they would be forced to bear Toronto's garbage in the event of a border closure.^[162] Some politicians, including John Tory and Dalton McGuinty, supported the option of local trash incineration as it would reduce dependence on landfill space. Miller opposed this, citing both cost concerns and a threat to the environment.^[163] He also reiterated his opposition to shipping Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine landfill near Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario.^[164] In 2005, Miller led the city in renewing its contract with Republic for five years.^[165]

In 2006, Miller spearheaded a decision for the City of Toronto to purchase Green Lane Environmental Ltd., a large landfill area near St. Thomas in southwestern Ontario. It is believed that this purchase will solve Toronto's waste disposal problems for several years, as the city explores other options for the future. Council voted 26-12 to accept the plan.^[166] This was criticized by London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best and provincial Minister of Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley, as they received no notice of the deal, but they conceded that they could do little to block it.^[167]

On September 21, 2006, Toronto Star columnist Royson James suggested that the city had received a better offer for the Green Lane site one year earlier, and failed to act on it. Miller described James's accusation as "categorically false", acknowledging that the city received a conditional proposal in 2005 but denying that any formal offer was made or that a price was negotiated. He added that a deal would have been impossible, as the province had not granted its approval at the time. Green Lane has upheld Miller's version of events. This controversy notwithstanding, James has written in support of the Green Lane purchase.^[168] The deal was completed in December 2006, with Toronto paying $220 million for the site.^[169]

During Miller's tenure, Toronto has also expanded its Green Bin recycling program, a composting project designed to reduce the amount of waste that Toronto ships to landfills. The project was initiated in Etobicoke in 2002, and the other areas of Toronto have been added since Miller's election as mayor. Green Bin became citywide in October 2005 when North York was included in the program. In marking the achievement, Miller described Toronto as "a North American leader in recycling and composting programs".^[170] Toronto currently recycles and composts 40 per cent of the garbage collected by the city; it plans to increase this figure to 60 per cent in 2010, and 100 per cent in 2012.^[171]

Miller reiterated his opposition to trash incineration in the 2006 mayoral campaign.^[172] The final legal hurdle to the Green Lane purchase was resolved in March 2007, and the deal was signed in early April.^[173]

Federal government

Miller welcomed the arrival of Paul Martin's Government in late 2003, claiming that Martin was the first prime minister to directly address municipal issues.^[192] He endorsed the Martin government's "New Deal for Cities" plan in February 2004, and supported Martin's pledge to waive the Goods and Services Tax for cities.^[193] He was a prominent supporter of the Martin government's 2005 budget, and argued against bringing down the minority Liberal government to force a summer election.^[194] In June 2005, Miller welcomed a federal commitment to provide $1.9 billion to Ontario municipalities over five years from federal gas tax revenues.^[195]

Miller convened a meeting of Canada's major urban mayors in January 2004, and argued at the summit that Canadian cities needed enhanced powers of governance to deal with a variety modern challenges. In September of the same year, Miller hosted a meeting of ten major city Canadian mayors, examining the issue of federal gas tax revenues.^[196]

In February 2004, Miller called for greater coordination between all three levels of government in overseeing patterns of immigration within Canada.^[197] In early 2005, the City of Toronto earmarked up to $5 million to assist about 2,000 refugees who were expected to arrive from tsunami-ravaged areas of Southeast Asia.^[198]

Miller did not support any party in the 2004 federal election, endorsing four individual candidates: New Democrats Peggy Nash and Olivia Chow, and Liberals John Godfrey and Borys Wrzesnewskyj.^[199] In 2005, when federal Social Development Minister Ken Dryden was planning a national childcare strategy, Miller spoke in favour of a system based around public delivery.^[200]

Miller endorsed only two candidates in the 2006 federal election: Liberal John Godfrey and New Democrat Peggy Nash.^[201] Unsuccessful NDP candidate and former provincial MPP Marilyn Churley blamed Miller for withholding support from other New Democrats. According to one report, Churley briefly mused challenging him for mayor in 2006 before deciding not to do so.^[202] Miller supported Paul Martin's call for a total ban on handguns, and urged Martin to bring forward tougher bail conditions on persons accused of gun crimes.^[203]

Monte Solberg of the Conservative Party met with Miller in June 2005, and told Miller that the Conservative Party would honour existing agreements for waterfront renewal if elected.^[204] Despite ideological differences, Miller commended Stephen Harper, who was elected as Martin's successor in 2006, for taking urban issues seriously. Miller supported the appointment of Lawrence Cannon as Minister for Communities in February 2006, and tried without success to persuade the Harper government against eliminating Canada's national child-care plan.^[205] He expressed mixed views about the Harper government's first budget, noting that it allowed Toronto to construct 1,000 units of affordable housing while also expressing concern about cuts to child-care spaces.^[206]

In early March 2007, the Harper government introduced a $1.5 billion plan to assist Toronto's public transit system and expand provincial highways. Miller welcomed the new revenue, saying that it was a step in the direction of permanent funding.^[207] Miller later described Harper's 2007 budget as a "step backwards", criticizing its lack of revenues for long-term transit funding and permanent infrastructure.^[208] Globe and Mail columnist John Barber, however, has noted that this was not echoed by other city mayors and described the One Cent Campaign as "wishful thinking". With Dalton McGuinty's 2007 provincial budget also being similarly dismissive of Miller's demands, Barber suggested that the city could realistically solve its problems by making use of its new taxing powers.^[209]

During the 2008 federal election campaign, Miller declared that the Green Party of Canada was the only one to directly address city issues such as transit and infrastructure. He went on to say that he wasn't endorsing any particular party.^[210]

On June 18, 2009, Miller requested federal funding from the Harper government's $12-billion stimulus spending, for new streetcars in the Transit City initiative. The city faced a deadline of June 27, 2009 to commit to the $1.2-billion deal signed with Bombardier for the 204 streetcars. To put pressure on the Harper government to come up with its one-third share of the cost, Miller and Premier Dalton McGuinty made an announcement in Thunder Bay to fund the new streetcars. However, federal Transport Minister John Baird rejected the request outright. Baird stated that streetcar funding clearly failed to meet the stimulus bill's requirement that the funds would have to be spent in 2 years, as that was meant to put money into the economy quickly to buoy demand and staving off deflation, while Transit City would have been a long-term project. Also the stimulus required funds to be spent on infrastructure in the municipality where the application is granted to create local employment, whereas the jobs created by building streetcars would be in Thunder Bay and not Toronto. Baird noted that Toronto was the only one out of 2,700 applicants that didn't meet the eligibility criteria.^{[211][212][213]}

Provincial government

Miller's relations with the provincial government of Dalton McGuinty have generally been cordial, although the two governments have had disputes over finances. Miller argues that the former provincial government of Mike Harris burdened the city with disproportionately high service costs, and has asked the provincial government to re-assume responsibility for some of these programs. As of 2007, Toronto pays $730 million for services that were provincial responsibilities before Harris came to power (Harris stated that the downloads were necessary to reduce the provincial deficit, and to compensate for reduced transfer payments from the federal government of Jean Chrétien).^[223] McGuinty has shown some sympathy to Toronto's position, but has also argued that the city has not taken sufficient responsibility for its own budgetary shortfalls.^[224]

In early 2004, McGuinty told reporters that Miller's government had asked for more money in transfer payments than the province could provide.^[225] McGuinty's first budget, introduced later in the year, nevertheless honoured a commitment to provide municipalities including Toronto with a portion of gasoline taxes.^[226] Miller later criticized the McGuinty government's proposal to negotiate future projects with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario rather than with individual municipalities, arguing that this would weaken Toronto's negotiating ability.^[227] John Gerretsen, the municipal affairs minister, argued that the AMO arrangement would still permit the province to negotiate with Toronto to specific issues.^[228] Under Miller's direction, Toronto withdrew from the AMO in 2005.

Miller had criticized the provincial government's previous authority over Toronto as constitutionally outdated and a barrier to economic growth, noting that simple changes like parking levies and tax-free transit passes needed approval from the provincial government.^[229] He gave his full support to the McGuinty government's City of Toronto Act, which grants a variety of new powers to the city.^[230] In 2005, he wrote that the City of Toronto Act will "give the city freedom and flexibility to deliver services creatively and effectively", and that it "will essentially be Toronto's constitution".^[231] The act was formally proclaimed on January 1, 2007.^[232] Soon after, Toronto used its new powers to delegate local matters to community councils, and announced plans for a Lobbying Control Framework.^[233] Recently, Miller has used the Act to justify the $600,000 cost of hiring new staff for his office, saying that his position has increased responsibilities.^[234]

Miller strongly supported the McGuinty government's 2006 budget, which included an immediate $200 million boost for Toronto.^[235]

Miller later criticized the McGuinty government's 2007 budget. He supported the province's anti-poverty initiatives, but also argued that it was refusing to "pay its bills", and said that Toronto's budgetary problems were the result of $500 million in social service costs mandated by the provincial government.^[236] During a later discussion, provincial finance minister Greg Sorbara declined to help the city to fix its $71 million shortfall, saying that "he doesn't have a mandate to fix this". Miller has since moved to have the city sue the province over the shortfall.^[237]

Policies

Miller talks at Humber College, March 2010.

Miller outlined his waterfront renewal plan in October 2006, highlighted by 750 acres (3.0 km²) of new public spaces and parks from Scarborough to Etobicoke. While making this announcement, he described the Toronto Port Authority as "a rogue agency that is not accountable to anyone" and renewed his criticism of the expanding island airport.^[261] His environmental strategy outlines a four-year neighbourhood beautification program in each of Toronto's neighbourhoods.^[262]

Miller called for more dedicated bus lines and increased light rapid transit, with a corresponding de-emphasis on subway construction. He has also called for a Universal Transit Pass (or "U-pass"), to encourage transit use among college and university students.^[263] He promised to continue to limit tax increases to the rate of inflation,^[264] and announced $13 million to improve community safety in thirteen troubled neighbourhoods.^[265]

In his campaign platform, released November 1, 2006, Miller promised 4,000 units of affordable housing, a mandatory lobbyist registry, and a further expansion of the green bin program into apartments and condominiums. He said that he would negotiate with the federal and provincial governments for a share of the Goods and Services Tax and Provincial Sales Tax, noting that a GST/PST transfer of only one cent would increase Toronto's annual revenues by $450 million.^[266] Miller also called for a National Transit Strategy to fund public transit in Canada's largest cities.^[267]

In late October 2006, Miller proposed that Toronto's 200,000 landed immigrants be permitted to vote in municipal elections. Pitfield later indicated her support for the proposal,^[268] and Provincial Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen indicated his willingness to examine it after the election.^[269]

Results

Miller consistently led Jane Pitfield in public opinion polls during the campaign, usually by significant margins.^[270] Stephen LeDrew, a late entry in the contest, failed to provide a credible challenge. Miller defeated Pitfield 57 per cent to 32 per cent on election day, winning 42 of the city's 44 wards.^[271] He used his victory speech to make Toronto's case for a greater share of federal and provincial tax revenues.^[272][273]