New smell as councillors air their beefs
Get ready for political chest-thumping.Today's council meeting, the first regular meeting since the 39-day city strike began June 22, could turn into a loud and rowdy venting of grievances.
"I think there's a lot of animosity left after the strike, and I think it will become apparent at (today's) meeting," said Councillor Doug Holyday. "I think there'll be a lot of posturing. There certainly was a lot of posturing at the last meeting (when council ratified the unions' contracts)."
But it's not just the strike that could cause fireworks.
On the agenda, though they're likely to get punted to Mayor David Miller's hand-picked executive committee, are three motions from Councillor Michael Walker to have the city's EMS, garbage collection, and daycare and children's services deemed essential by the province, removing the right to strike in those industries.
There's also a proposed new policy on the agenda that would allow councillors to use up to $25,000 of taxpayers' money to initiate libel action against other councillors, the public, or anyone who they feel has unfairly smeared their reputation.
FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS
That policy came under fire from some councillors in early June when it was approved by the executive committee.
They worried then the new policy would result in costly and frivolous lawsuits, and that it was a threat against the media.
Miller is hopeful today's meeting won't resort to political posturing, even though the city's outgoing interim integrity commissioner, Lorne Sossin, warns in his annual report there is too much of it going on in council.
"This is a political environment. There's always politics," Miller said.
"You even have councillors saying -- when the city achieves all of its bargaining goals that they were all aware of, that were all in writing, and we achieved every single one -- that we sold out," he said. "It's astonishing the things people say in the name of politics,.
"As a whole, as opposed to a few members ... I think it (council) always makes wise decisions, and that's the sort of spirit I'm heading into this meeting with," Miller said.
Petty' council lacks 'civility'
Councillors sometimes lack "civility" and their disrespectful tactics are "likely to undermine" public confidence in City Hall, according to Toronto's outgoing interim integrity commissioner.Lorne Sossin, a U of T law professor who took over the job on an interim basis in October 2008 and is being replaced by a full-time watchdog effective Sept. 8, made his comments in his annual report that will be before council today or tomorrow.
"The lack of civility I witnessed at several council (meetings) ... is corrosive to an environment of mutual respect, and is likely to undermine public confidence in city council," he writes.
He was "struck" by the personal accusations "and how much of that petty side of politics is allowed to get in the way of really important ideas that are often at issue," Sossin told the Sun.
NEED 'GROUND RULES'
"I think there should absolutely be very well understood and well enforced ground rules," he said. "It's not to me unreasonable to insist that personal accusations play no part in that role."
Councillors should adhere to the same "basic things" children are taught at school and in the home, to be respectful of one another and to listen to other people's point of view, Sossin said.
Mayor David Miller said he was "saddened" by Sossin's comments, but hopes the councillors who don't behave themselves change their ways.
"I think everyone knows the members of council that he's speaking to, and hopefully they will rise above things and remember that we're here in the public interest," he said.
........where is the transparency Miller promised?
Following a secret vote today or tomorrow, councillors are expected to appoint Sossin's permanent replacement, chosen by Miller and Councillors Gloria Lindsay-Luby, Adrian Heaps and Adam Vaughan.
Workers clean up with OT
The city's quick weekend cleanup of the mess left behind after the 39-day municipal strike came thanks to former pickets working overtime.
Refund trash fees, city urged
Torontonians, including non-profit organizations, paid good money to the city for services that were never rendered because of the strike.
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