Mayor Mel Lastman was right on the money when he identified Toronto citizens' general lack of interest in the issue of ward boundaries. Saying that the public react to the drafting of ward boundaries with a yawn, Lastman said he truly cared.
"I care. But other than the politicians and the press, no, I don't think the public cares too much."
Following the recommendation of a committee of three councillors on how to divide 21 of 22 federal/provincial ridings, the only major change was in the riding of Scarborough Centre. But final approval came only after a heated six-hour debate, with some councillors hurling accusations and recriminations at their own ward mates.
Unpleasant as it was, the patient Lastman had expected even worse dramatics. "I was expecting a lot of nasty and terrible things to be said. Fortunately, it went much, much better than I ever anticipated," he said.
The underlying problem with municipal government is that the public at large has not only come to expect very little, but gets very little from its elected councils. Within the year, in predictably discouraging numbers, voters will straggle into the polls for another civic election.
Even before the calendar made 'election year' official, councillors were spending most of their passion on issues that saw their own nests feathered. Realistically, how much business will be conducted at Toronto City Hall with councillors hellbent for the hustings?
Yet, time will show that Mike Harris did the right thing in passing legislation to reduce the number of city councillors from 57 to 44. Detractors claim that the cutback will only lead to more power for savvy New Democratic Party members like Jack Layton and Olivia Chow, who took the highroad and remained loudly silent during the recent ward debate.
The Harris decrease in councillors is the beginning of more accountability at the municipal level of government. While the local political theatre still overwhelmingly favours the re-election of incumbents, in-fighting among the old guard may allow the odd newcomer to slide up the middle.
The successful advance of more public service minded people to municipal government is bound to take time. Over the years, councillors ensured that their turf would be protected at all costs. City incumbents rely heavily on name recognition, kept alive with printed material between elections, courtesy of expensive "Communication with Constituents" budgets. We may not approve of a Howard Moscoe, but we sure recognize his name. Difficult for a newcomer to run against a Pam McConnell, whose co-op townhouse and salary, both paid from the public purse, are taken for granted.
The drop to 44 from 57 councillors is said to be only a compromise from Premier Mike Harris, who is on the public record for wanting a further reduction to 22. Remember that accountability for civic government originated with a provincial government returned to power with a second consecutive majority.
Community newspapers under pressure from some councillors in election years may get a break now that their politicians are going at it, toe to toe.
Public apathy has left us with fatcat, spend-happy, arrogant municipal councils.
More public interest in civic elections cannot help but lead to more accountable municipal government.
Forty-four councillors rather than 57 will be elected in November 2000. Twenty-two councillors will be elected in 2003.
Anything worthwhile takes time.
Some things are well worth the wait.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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