TOUCHDOWN – FORD & DEL GRANDE RE-CAST CITY SPENDING DEBATE

This week's perspective from Bob Reid: By rolling out that series of KPMG consultant reports analyzing city spending and possible areas of savings, Mayor Rob Ford and Budget Chief Michael Del Grande have done what just a few short months ago would have appeared impossible:  they have re-cast the entire debate about the city’s fiscal situation from whether there should be any spending cuts to exactly where they should be made.  Getting taxpayers – and the councilors who represent them – to buy into the notion of making major spending reductions was a fundamental challenge and a seismic shift in traditional thinking at city hall.  And by releasing the series of reports piecemeal and allowing a steady stream of analysis and media reporting, the communications play helped pave the way for the policy decisions which will follow.  It reminds me of Jim Balsillie’s success in redefining the debate about a new NHL franchise in Canada from “should there be one?” to “where should it go?” Here’s hoping the mayor will have more success with his quest.