Working The Back Rooms & Making Promises He Can;t Keep?

Where Has David Miller Been During The Election Campaign?

Tuesday October 9, 2007

CityNews.ca Staff

Here's an election question that has nothing to do with the referendum, faith-based schooling or the health care premium: where has Mayor David Miller been during the last month of the campaign?

Critics have blasted the head of City Hall for not coming out fighting for Toronto and its financial woes, which has seen the Big Smoke on the verge of bankruptcy and forced to take drastic financial matters - including a so-far unsuccessful attempt to pass major new taxes.

Many expected Miller to be front and centre, trying to make T.O. a priority for voters and the parties. Yet most feel he's been quiet during the campaign, and now it's too late.

Miller not only denies the charge, he takes vehement exception to it. "I find this criticism to be completely bizarre," he responds. "It's just unfounded. I've been very present when the leaders have made speeches at the Board of Trade, been available to the media. We have kept city issues in front of Torontonians."

He claims trying to make the leaders focus on T.O. when the rest of the province is also at stake wouldn't work. So he took his show on the road, and wasn't in the eyes of Toronto. "I've been in places like Belleville and Eastern Ontario, because the issues facing Toronto are facing the whole province. And we've actually been very successful. The election has been usurped by the school funding issue, but for the first time, all three parties have made specific commitments to Toronto and all Ontario cities ... That's huge progress."

He maintains building alliances with other cities is the only way to get the message across to the major party leaders - and he's sure it's worked. "I hope the people vote for Toronto," he answers. "They should ask the candidate, if you get elected as MPP, are you going to fight for Toronto in the Legislature?"

And now that it appears the Liberals are heading to a majority, what about downloading and the burden it's placed on the city? "The commitment the Liberal government has made is to work with the cities to upload," he explains. "It's a vague commitment. Their track record's been good, that's positive. This commitment needs to be more precise and needs to happen."

But Miller won't be finished politicking long after the vote is over. He has his own D-Day approaching - a vote at a recalcitrant City Hall on October 22nd to try and pass his two new heavy levies, a land transfer tax and a vehicle registration charge. He claims he has the votes he needs, but it will still take some convincing.

As for what he expects from whoever takes over at Queen's Park late Wednesday night? "We're in a better position than we were four years ago," he believes. "But we have to keep fighting."

Call him the optimistic man. Just not the invisible one.