October 21, 2010

Merit OpenShop Contractors Association endorses Ford for Toronto mayor

TORONTO

The Merit OpenShop Contractors Association of Ontario (MOCAO) is endorsing Toronto mayoral candidate Rob Ford in the upcoming municipal election.

MOCAO applauded Ford’s commitment to an open construction tendering process that is expected to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year and provide equal job opportunities for all qualified construction contractors and workers.

Toronto is the only municipality in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to have union-only restrictions on construction contracts.

“A commitment to open bidding is a commitment to the best interests of Toronto taxpayers and all construction workers,” said Gord Sproule, vice chair of MOCAO. “The system must be reformed and changed if Toronto is to be competitive with other GTA municipalities in attracting jobs and economic growth.

“Rob Ford is the only choice in this election if integrity and the future prosperity of Toronto is what we demand of our elected officials.”

The association also called on all candidates for Toronto city council to support fair, open and competitive tendering on city projects.

Merit noted that Smitherman has committed to supporting union-only tendering that has “undermined the fiscal and ethical integrity of Toronto’s construction procurement process.”

“Rob Ford is now the only mayoral candidate with the integrity to speak up for the rights of Toronto taxpayers and construction workers by promising to fight against union-only tendering while saving the city many millions of dollars,” said David McDonald, president of MOCAO.

“With Ford’s main opponents opposing a fully open bidding process, the choice is clear on who can be trusted to deliver on promises of fiscal accountability in Toronto.”

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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