Rob Ford says mayor is ‘lying to the public’ on privatization of garbage collection

TORONTO – Former mayor Rob Ford says John Tory is a liar for not sticking to his campaign promise to contract out garbage collection east of Yonge Street. City staff say it would be a bad idea.

“It’s appalling, that’s what it is”, Ford said.

“Every debate he said, ‘I’m going to privatize garbage.’ … It’s a strong word but, he’s lying to the public,” said Ford, who has made untrue statements to the public about his drug use, labour strikes, taxes and the details of public infrastructure projects such as the Scarborough RT and Eglinton Crosstown line.

Tory did say during the election he’d privatize garbage collection, which is currently privatized west of Yonge.

But the city’s Public Works and Infrastructure committee voted to defer a review of the curbside waste collection services Tuesday morning after a staff report recommended the city not proceed with the privatization of garbage collection east of Yonge because it makes more sense to use a mixed system.

“This has already been done … We have the plan, all you have to do is flip the plan on the east side, it’s done,” Ford said.

READ MORE: City staff against privatizing garbage pickup east of Yonge

“The Mayor supports the decision by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee,”  Tory’s spokeswoman Amanda Galbraith said.

“The Mayor remains committed to providing Toronto residents the best service at the lowest cost.”

Public Works Committee Chair Jaye Robinson supports privatizing garbage collection east of Yonge and had concerns about the staff report, but said the process is complicated.

“The collective bargaining is coming up very quickly – it’s right around the corner – labour negotiations that we have no idea at this time, how those decisions and outcome will impact this concept of privatizing garbage east of Yonge,” she said.

“Without that information we really can’t make an effective decision at this time.”

Ford called that assertion “hogwash.”

“All we have to do is flip it and put out a tender,” he said. “Let everyone bid on it.”