Don’t we have enough sanitation workers on the payroll? If not why aren’t we hiring more in the employment blitz that the City of Toronto is planning?

Toronto has officially begun its spring cleaning. Last year over 3,500 tonnes of litter were picked up during the three week clean-a-thon. This year so far over 1,600 tonnes of winter debris have already been removed. The culmination of this clean up effort is the 20-Minute Toronto Makeover on Friday, April 24th and Mayor David Miller’s Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, April 25th. This is a major undertaking with 500 staff members, 300 pieces of equipment, and 125 pickup trucks participating. So why do they need me?

Last year over 135,000 Torontonians participated in this massive cleaning operation. While I think that it’s commendable, I can’t imagine the appeal for picking up litter and doing the job of paid employees. The City of Toronto is trying to sell it as a fun activity for family and friends to do together as if picking up trash is a bonding ritual. If you want to spend a lovely Saturday outdoors with friends and family, how about a BBQ, a trip to the Toronto Islands, a picnic in the park, a golf outing, a bike ride, … The list could go on forever. Toronto offers many wonderful opportunities for outdoor pleasure and picking up trash isn’t one of them.

So why don’t we leave the clean-up to the city employees who are paid to do the job and enjoy any number of pleasant outdoor activities with friends and family?