Is Smitherman trying to sweep his way to City Hall?
Toronto has another politician stalking its streets with a broom.
Clean sweep sparks mayoral rumours
Smitherman denies cleanup initiative a campaign move
By BRYN WEESE AND DON PEAT, SUN MEDIA
With broom in hand, Deputy Premier George Smitherman vowed yesterday to put a shine on the city's trash-laden streets in the midst of the four-week municipal strike.
Despite the broom, a symbol associated with David Miller's successful mayoral campaign in 2003, the Ontario cabinet minister insisted his move wasn't done for political purposes. Smitherman said he's just a proud citizen of Toronto who wants to help keep his city clean.
But rumours have swirled for years that Smitherman might run for Miller's job and fielded many questions yesterday about the motives behind his civic cleanup.
"Anybody that makes the mistake, in the middle of summer, of trying to intoxicate people with political theories, I think this is way off the mark," Smitherman said. "There's no intervention here except the intervention of citizens demonstrating their pride in their city."
He and about 40 residents, part of OneToronto.ca, put out a call yesterday from Yonge and Wellesley Sts. to other Torontonians to clean up their own communities Saturday. They're launching a website tomorrow to encourage community cleanups.
And although Smitherman insisted yesterday's photo-op was not a jab at Miller, at times he left observers wondering.
"I've wielded a broom or two in my day," he said. "I think a lot of people are going to say, 'Hey, there's a guy actually who knows how to operate a broom.' "
But Smitherman's call for community cleanups has raised the ire of Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, which represents the city's garbage collectors and other outside workers.
"There's no question that any time we have the public, or strike breakers, or scabs performing the work of the bargaining unit during a labour disruption, that only contributes to a more lengthy strike," Ferguson warned.
Veteran city Councillor Michael Walker said he believes Smitherman's actions are political, whether Smitherman intended them to be or not.
"By him just getting up and doing it, it's political, even if he has no other ulterior motive," Walker said. "Is it an indication that he's throwing the gauntlet down in front of the mayor? If it is, the mayor should be shaking in his boots."
Stuart Green, a spokesman for Miller, wouldn't comment on Smitherman's broom-sweeping yesterday.
"The mayor's focus is on reaching a fair and affordable settlement. We're not going to comment on the political dynamic (of Smitherman's photo-op)," Green said.
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