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QYou do believe you made headway though?

Del Grande We made firsts. First police budget zero increase; first time spending less than previous year; first time not using prior-year surplus. I could have had first time not using any reserves, but they did a political budget that wouldn’t let me get to that stage. First time managing the debt to the condition we had. Then on a whim, they want to give the TTC $5-million, no logic, no rhyme, no reason. How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have any room on the credit card, that you have to pay down the credit card to add the next purchase on the credit card. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go into next year with a 4% tax increase, or they are going to take their surpluses.

QWhat did you think of the mayor during this budget session?

Del Grande The mayor was the mayor. It’s one of the unsolved mysteries of the universe.

QWhat do you mean by that?

Del Grande You just never know. Whatever you want to ask that relates to him, I can’t provide a logic for you. You have to ask him. I sometimes shrug my shoulders.

QAre you talking about his decision to vote for a tax freeze after advocating for a 2% hike?

Del Grande I don’t think he understands or understood the nuances of what he did, but that’s him. That’s him. While he supported 2% [in the end], if there was the opportunity that 23 people would vote for zero, I told him that was impractical. Rob, it took me 8 months to get to this point, you think in 24 hours I’m going to find $46-million? It’s nice to have that removed off my shoulders. I’m not leaving a loser, that I didn’t do the job. I’ve done the job, I left on a high. Now I can get on to my core root, my constituency. Time to get back and not have to worry about cabinet solidarity, for lack of a better word.