Toronto mayoral candidate Giorgio Mammoliti floated a potentially controversial proposal Saturday which would see the city's business improvement associations picking up some city services.
"We may not need as many city workers to be able to do the jobs that they've traditionally done, and perhaps our BIAs can be one of those partners," Mammoliti told CTV Toronto.
Mammoliti made the comments at a neighbourhood clean-up effort which was organized by the Danforth BIA. The event also featured rival candidates Rocco Rossi and Sarah Thompson.
Mammoliti's comments come after last summer's contentious civic strike, which resulted in garbage pilling up around the city. The strike is widely seen as a key reason why Mayor David Miller decided not to seek re-election.
The labour action also pulled the thorny issue of city worker contracts into the political spotlight.
Earlier in the day, the mayoral candidates showed up with their supporters to pick up trash and garbage in the Danforth area, with the winner grabbing the Danforth Earth Day Trash Can Trophy.
"This is about civic pride. This is about loving the city, which we do," said Rossi.
The contest kicked off at around 10:30 a.m.
Each team was given a two-block zone and handed a 15-minute time limit to get the job done.
Thompson praised the effort as one that's necessary for the city's health.
"We have to work with community, business and the public sector together to do things like this all of the time, all over the city," she said.
Mammoliti walked away as the victor after his team filled a pick-up truck with trash.
"We are delighted that so many have accepted our challenge," said Susan Puff, the executive director of the Danforth BIA.
In addition to those shooting for the mayor's chair, several city hall candidates from Wards 29 and 30 also took part.
They included Chris Caldwell, Andrew James, Jane Pitfield, Michael Restivo and Jennifer Wood.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby
