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Toronto senior mocks Mayor Rob Ford’s proposed service cuts during city hall meeting

Hundreds of Toronto residents showed up at city hall Thursday to give Mayor Rob Ford a piece of their mind about the city's core services review and a KPMG report that suggested significant cuts to services such as library operations.

By all accounts most of the speakers, predictably, were against any cuts, but the 21-hour marathon session did have its share of memorable moments.

Among the 168 people addressing the executive committee was a sock puppet named Roy who spoke out against cuts to community grants, and a student, Anika Tabovaradan, who cried as she addressed council at 2 a.m. about her love for her local library branch.

One of the more poignant, and entertaining speeches was by a senior citizen, Mary Trapani Hynes, a resident of North York.

"You should get rid of the entire public library system," she told the committee in a mocking tone.

"As you can see from the thousands of petitions complaining about the proposed service cuts far too many people use the library to improve literacy and to learn about government policy."

With regards to housing subsidies and other social services, she was just as straight-faced and sharp.

"We should privatize (Toronto Community Housing Corporation) and eliminate any funding for housing support or any social services. If people can't afford to live in Toronto let them get another job or leave," she said.

"It shouldn't be the city's responsibility to look after ne'er-do-wells. I am not my brother's keeper, or my sister's. It would save millions, billions."

In closing, Hynes added the city should get rid all funding for public transit, and with the monies saved, Ford's government could give people rebates on their property taxes.

With a thumbs up gesture to the gallery of on-lookers, Hynes walked away to loud applause.

Mayor Ford wasn't amused.