Mayor's secret powers

Mayor's secret powers
How Miller's new clandestine club will threaten Toronto -- and democracy
By JOE WARMINGTON


The question you must ask yourself is: "Do you really want Mayor David Miller having the ability to control the city's future in secret?"

Do you want him, or any future mayor, to have that power?

There are some who think it has to go this way.

Councillor Case Ootes sure doesn't want to see it -- and yesterday started putting out feelers to others on council for them to start thinking about how to stop this drive for a clandestine club at City Hall for the personally selected and the few.

"He wants the power to hire and fire and to meet in private," said the veteran councillor, who is opposed to much of what the mayor stands for.

"I am against it at this point because the system we have says you are not allowed to meet in private."

And he feels strongly it should not be allowed to change just to meet the ambition of a group of "leftist" politicians who find it cumbersome to work within rules that have served municipalities well for more than a century.

But if he can't stop them, Ootes said he at least wants to make sure there is something in place to be able to challenge them.

"We need a whole different form of governance," said the 20-year councillor. "The traditional municipal form of governance doesn't work anymore."

He's right. But it may already be too late.

In-camera meetings with hand-chosen sidekicks is what Miller wants and is what he's asking for.

And it's probably what he will get in this day and age of politicians who seem hell-bent on finding new ways to tax the citizens so they can go about the socialist approach in administering their city.

Don't forget the province shamefully, and without consultation from any voters I have talked with, gave Miller the power to create a second land transfer tax just for Toronto, gave him the power to ding drivers for $60 for a new vehicle registration tax and the brains at the provincial level extended municipal council terms to four years.

They had no business doing any of that. But still, there are new rules at City Hall. And new taxes.

Who knows what else this so-called executive committee will come up with if permitted to shut out those elected who don't agree with them -- as well as the public and the media?

Ootes, the Ward 29 councillor for Toronto Danforth, raises some important points when he wonders if it's time somebody take a look at this and make sure it's in everyone's interest for it to be done this way. "There has to be a counter balance in any democracy -- you know, checks and balances," he says. "This is no longer happening here in Toronto or has been severely diminished."

And yet if Miller gets his way, he will gain more powers that would not only let him continue with the undemocratic practice of having a private club of supporters, but allow him to meet with these hand-chosen followers in complete privacy.

It's municipal politics where every elected councillor is supposed to get a say on behalf of every citizen from every neighbourhood. But if it is not going to be that anymore, then Ootes is right and there has to be a new component added in. Real opposition, with real questioning powers -- all done in public.

'COUNCIL BLACKLIST'

Then the mayor can be asked how it helps the city to not have the wisdom and experience of an Ootes -- involved in the process of running the city.

Same goes for Karen Stintz, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Michael Thompson, Michael Walker, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Bill Saundercook and others.

How could you leave these people out of any process? Their wards want them involved. It doesn't seem smart. Or democratic.

But if there is going to be, as Ootes calls it, a "council blacklist," they should at least have a voice to take him on in every issue. "Maybe a parliamentary system with opposition," said Ootes.

Or at least a system where no longer are just the staff at City Hall questioned by council but the seven chairs of city committees, who are elected officials but appointed by the mayor. "They should be the ones answering the questions -- you don't see deputy ministers on the hot seat in the provincial parliament but the actual elected politicians," said Ootes.

One thing for sure is they should not ever be permitted to take select members and meet privately -- without the scrutiny of media, the public or others on council.

It's just not the same as a premier meeting with his cabinet -- because in that case official opposition is in place and there is daily question period. This is not Cuba and it's not China. The only thing that should be secret here is your own personal choice in the ballet box.