Councillor's Actions WERE Childish

And they should be admonished but The Star seems to have lost sight of one obvious thing....THE CONTINUING LACK OF LEADERSHIP BY MAYOR MILLER. Aren't parents supposed to be in charge and control the children?

Play nice, children
February 08, 2007

City council animosities have erupted in the form of unforgivably childish behaviour that must not be repeated if Toronto's municipal government is to retain even a shred of public respect.

People are outraged. And they have every right to be when even lining up for a photo seems beyond the ability of their elected representatives.

The cancellation of a group portrait Tuesday after several councillors would not stop bickering over where to sit marks a new low for a council that has been long tarnished by episodes of dysfunction.

The incident stems from the outrageous behaviour of a few politicians on council's conservative wing who demanded to sit in the front row and refused to move when asked.

It is inexcusable that veteran councillors, including Case Ootes and Mike Del Grande, stooped to such juvenile tactics in expressing their opposition to the new order at city hall.

Ootes was once a highly respected deputy mayor who effectively chaired many a meeting in the Mel Lastman era. Now he has put himself in the role of a schoolyard whiner, devoid of any sense of propriety.

It would not be so serious if such conduct only tarnished those councillors who refused to co-operate with the city's photographer.

But this embarrassing incident inevitably reflects upon the effectiveness of the entire city council.

It serves to deepen the public's already profound cynicism concerning politicians, especially those elected to local office.

The councillors who perpetrated this nonsense not only made fools of themselves, they made Toronto's municipal government appear silly and weak. In fact, it is neither.

What it is, though, is deeply divided.

Mayor David Miller and some councillors, especially those on a new executive committee, wield unprecedented power. This group was originally supposed to occupy the coveted front row in the photo.

Other long-serving members, such as Ootes, have seen their influence stripped away and have been reduced to battling on small fronts, such as seating for a portrait.

What councillors must do is settle down and do the job they were elected to do, which is to represent constituents to the best of their ability.

And for those councillors who won't, then they should at least stop tossing their dignity to the wind and making fools of one and all.