Former Mayor Larry Di Ianni and Mr. Ecklund's daughter Erika

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LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

former Mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di IanniA $48M Dollar Bonanza For Hamilton

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted August 29, 2008)

Last week Premier Dalton McGuinty gave Hamilton yet another cash bonanza in the form of a $48M cheque to spend on any capital infrastructure program the city wishes. Immediately upon receiving the money two things happened: politicians in this and other cities said a meek thank-you to the Premier, but reminded him the money wasn’t enough; and the Media started the speculation on how to spend the cash.

Everybody weighed in. The Mayor, appropriately, said that the money should be spent on catching up work on our aging infrastructure, and each Councillor in voicing his/her opinion mostly concentrated on capital projects in their own wards. The citizenry was asked to participate in the online blogs which have been set up, and a letter to the editor of the local paper chastised one Councillor for wanting to spend money on feel-good projects in his bailiwick. “Where are the city-wide priorities?” asked this frustrated citizen.

True, perhaps the Spectator might have waited to run the story on each Councillor’s wishes. True, perhaps the Councillors might have said, “Look, before I make up my mind I want to see staff’s reports on our pressing needs. And I will also speak to staff on what I believe needs capital improvement in my ward!” That way, the Councillors could have avoided criticism without boxing themselves in. However, that’s not the way the system works.

Intrepid reporters will always try to make news, especially during the dog-days of August. And when they are given a lead such as a $48M bonanza, reporters will want to find out how it might be spent. Councillors are elected to look after their wards, so there should be no surprise that their areas will receive prime attention. They too are doing their job when ‘blue-skying’. However, when decisions have to be made, I’m sure the majority of them will also want to address the wider big-city priorities.

The real story here is that the McGuinty government has continued to be good to cities across the province. Our allotment was part of a larger $1.1B dollar surplus given to municipalities. The fact that the province needs to continue up-loading social services costs is another issue, albeit an important one. Unlike the previous Mike Harris government that damned municipalities to deficit perdition with its policies, McGuinty and his troops have reversed that trend. Thank you, Mr. Premier. And thank you Ted McMeekin and Sophia Aggelonitis for helping our city. I think all of us should show some gratitude. In fact, it may not be a bad idea for Paul Miller and Andrea Horvath, who are quick to criticize the government on all sorts of matters, to issue a press release simply acknowledging the needs of the city and the government’s attention to them. They don’t have to be obsequious, just observant. What are the chances of that?

Note: As some of you who read my blog will know, I am a Federal Candidate in the riding of Hamilton East Stoney Creek. With an election call in the offing, this will be my last blog essay. I just want to thank Mr. Ecklund for generously agreeing to host my words. I have tried to offer my perspective on mostly municipal issues by offering the unique perspective of someone who has been involved in municipal politics at the highest level for nearly 25 years.

I also want to thank my readers. I don’t know if 1 or 1000 people have read my thoughts. I have very occasionally bumped into some who have actually admitted to being regular readers. I am also told that there is a steady readership of the blog. To all of you, I hope I have helped inform public discourse.

See you on the other side of the election! 

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