The new kids on the block arrived at city hall on Tuesday.
In addition to electing Rob Ford to be their mayor, voters brought in 14 new councillors on Oct. 25. City officials gave them their first tour of what will be their workplace for the next four years. The orientation sessions included briefings on things like how to set up a city hall office and hire staff - fewer staff if Mr. Ford has his way.
Meeting the media afterward, most of the new councillors were keen to emphasize the productive and co-operative work they hope to do on council, not the conflicts that might erupt under the controversial new mayor.
But hints of the fights ahead came through anyway. Mike Layton of Ward 19 (Trinity-Spadina) said he would oppose contracting out garbage collection to private contractors. Anna Bailao of Ward 18 (Davenport), said she backed Mr. Ford's plan to get rid of the annual vehicle registration tax, but insisted, "I don't want to jeopardize good public services to start cutting taxes."
Jaye Robinson of Ward 25 (Don Valley West), said council would have to look hard at how it continues to deliver good services if it eliminates the land transfer tax, another Ford objective.
Still, said Ms. Bailao, the new councillors were hoping to usher in a "collaborative approach" to running the city. "We respect each other's opinions."