An round-the-clock meeting at Toronto city hall where more than 300 members of the public came to tell mayor Rob Ford which services to protect and which to cut ended just before 8 a.m. ET with all decisions on cost-cutting options put off until September.
The marathon meeting, held by the city's executive committee and chaired by the mayor, heard from hundreds of union members, arts groups, social agencies and private citizens on the Rob Ford administration's deliberations over cutting services to rein in a budget deficit. At just few minutes shy of 22-and-a-half hours it was the longest continuous meeting of either council or one of its committees since the modern megacity was created in 1998.
With the exception of two or three, the message the meeting heard from the public was the same: don't cut anything.
When the public had finished, the blurry-eyed members of the committee voted to send the recommendations of a consultant's report to a meeting of the same group in September, along with a number of requests of the city manager, including finding efficiencies in the city's agencies, boards and commissions.
"This is one of the proudest days I've ever experienced at city hall," said the mayor before the vote. "Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with what we are doing, you are here. You truly believe in why you are here," said the mayor, who left quickly after the meeting ended and did not talk to reporters.
Giorgio Mammoliti, a loyalist of the mayor chastised the many members of the public who crowded into the committee room, waiting hours for their three minutes at the microphone and many lingering long after to hear others. "I was disappointed with what I saw," he said to hisses from the crowd.
Outside the meeting, the suburban councillor said the majority of the people who came to speak were from the downtown core. "We represent the whole city here and we have to understand that others have values as well. This particular administration wants to be the voice for everybody in this city, " he said.
Other councillors who are not in the mayor's inner circle and sat through the meeting took issue with his characterization, noting many came from outside the former city of Toronto to have their say.
"This is the very first time Toronto came out and spoke with a unified voice about what kind of city we want to have," said Councillor Gordon Perks." I have never experienced anything like it."
"It is very clear from today that mayor Ford has no idea what kind of government he wants, but it's damn clear that the citizens of Toronto do."
Throughout the night, presenters chose different methods to get their point across. One sang a song, another read a poem, one wrote a short story, a young man performed a puppet show and a retired teacher delivered a satirical essay. Most simply berated the committee.
While 344 people signed up to address the committee, as the hours wore on, many names were called that went unanswered.
The executive committee's task is to consider cuts suggested to the city's agencies, boards and commissions by auditor KPMG. While no final decisions have to be made at the meeting, the powerful executive can make recommendations that will carry weight over the coming months as the city decides what to axe and what to save.
Among the services and assets on the chopping block are libraries, water fluoridation, the affordable housing office, the Toronto Zoo, city-owned theatres, night buses and crossing guards.
People packed into the second-floor committee room at city hall – at several points, every available seat in the house was taken – and spilled over into adjacent rooms to watch on television monitors.
When the session first started, left wing opposition councillors were favourable to the speakers, while rightwing executives in Mr. Ford's inner circle asked probing questions, demanding community groups and social agencies tell them what services to cut.
"I'm not hearing any suggestions on how to deal with our shortfall," said budget chief Mike Del Grande to one arts group. "Yeah, you're important, fine. But we have a huge debt."
But as the hours ticked by, executives stopped asking questions altogether, while the opposition continued to ask questions, turning the exercise into something of a filibuster.
There were some moments of tension: when two men tried to swap speaking times, Mr. Ford refused to allow it and deputants shouted their displeasure. The mayor eventually ordered one of the men removed by security. On another occasion, the public clapped so loudly no one could speak, and Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, who labelled the dissenters "the socialist party," threatened to move a motion to stop the proceedings entirely.
On numerous occasions, the excitable crowd booed and screamed at the mayor, who largely displayed a quiet cool and stuck assiduously to the schedule, cutting people off after their speaking time was up.
Many more times, the crowd whooped and cheered their favourite speakers.
"We're closing schools in the poorest neighbourhood, yet we give police an 11 per cent raise?" said Nigel Barriffe, a primary school teacher in Mr. Ford's north Etobicoke district, before receiving a standing ovation.
"Rise up!" Mr. Barriffe exhorted them. "Rise up!"
A crossing guard shouted at councillors that children would be hurt if her job was outsourced. A 14-year-old library user cried as she talked about the importance of the institution.
There were, of course, moments of levity, too. Like when Susan Wesson sang a song about the importance of libraries. Everyone – including the executives – burst into applause after.
"Thank you very much. Thanks for livening up the evening," said Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, who had taken over the chair while Mr. Ford left the room for a break.
Desmond Cole, meanwhile, busted out a puppet named "Roy" to implore councillors not to make cuts.
The 29-year-old explained afterward that, after being to many of these deputations, he wanted to do something different.
Adrian Morrow