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With hard-pressed consumers cutting back on their spending and attendance already dropping at the Toronto Zoo, it seems an inopportune time to raise the fee to see this attraction. Nonetheless, that's what the zoo board has decided to do, with the cost of general admission to increase by one dollar, to $21, starting in the spring.
The measure must be approved by city council in order to take effect. Councillors should take care to examine the zoo's proposal before issuing any endorsement. Indeed, the entire zoo operation would benefit from a thorough examination.
Councillor Raymond Cho, chair of the zoo board, can insist – as he did last week – that this civic institution is "doing fine." But evidence suggests the contrary. Over the past year, the zoo's administration has been tarnished by the unexplained manoeuvrings of CEO Calvin White concerning severance pay and a six-month leave-of-absence. Two city councillors have quit the zoo board in frustration over how it is run. The zoo has split from its independent fundraising arm, the Toronto Zoo Foundation. Attendance is down this year to 1.3 million, from 1.4 million in 2007. And the union representing zoo workers has called for a sweeping overhaul of management.
If that's Cho's definition of "doing fine," one shudders to think what might constitute a crisis.
A strong spotlight should be focused on this agency. Accountability needs to be restored. A long hard look at the zoo's latest budget request should be just the beginning.
