 In 2007, Barry Hertz reported in the National Post that cost savings never materialized.He also noted that government staff had grown, with the city employing 4,015 more people in 2007 than it did in 1998 Before amalgamation, 73% of the expenses taken over by Toronto came from Metro Toronto, and were thus already integrated programs.Additionally, municipal affairs minister Al Leach touted it as a measure that would produce a stronger, more unified Toronto better equipped to compete in a global marketplace.