LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

The Winds of Change

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted March 9, 2009)

Two important elections brought about political change in Ontario this past week. The first was a by-election to bring ‘seatless’ Conservative leader John Tory into the legislature. The second was the NDP convention to replace outgoing leader Howard Hampton. Neither election disappointed in terms of unpredictability.

Way back in September of 2007, I wrote that Hampton would be the first of the three provincial party leaders to be shown the door. He was. The surprise is that John Tory would follow so closely on Howard’s heels. In the first instance Howard Hampton, a principled leader, became a spent force because he couldn’t revitalize the NDP after 10 years at the helm. Mr. Tory, also a decent fellow, was done in by his own lack of political instincts as evidenced by selecting a poor election platform. He compounded his problems with a poor choice of seat to contest in the Toronto area during the province’s general election; and completed the error-filled trifecta with a poorer still choice of by-election locale to stage his comeback. The political landscape is littered with good intentions, unfortunately.

Out of the ashes of these dashed political aspirations comes new hope for both parties. Andrea Horwath won big in the Hamilton convention this weekend. If, as rumour has it, Tim Hudak succeeds John Tory, Hamilton may have two leaders who can lay claim to this city. More on the Tim story another day. This day truly belongs to Andrea.

As I have written previously, Andrea is a very capable politician. She can be ruthless when she needs to be and can cut deals when that is called for. She has good political instincts and will be a fresh leadership face for the NDP. Much rides on her victory as the party, some feel, has selected her potential over her immediate readiness for the position. I don’t think Andrea will disappoint.

She has already moved quickly to heal any leadership wounds. Mr. Bisson moved to her, giving her a boost during the second ballot of the vote on Saturday. She made conciliatory statements about Mr. Tabuns who was expected to win the convention but for Andrea’s strength with organized labour. The only person on the outs seems to be Michael Prue and his followers, local MPP Paul Miller who backed a last-place finisher over the hometown candidate; and puzzlingly, MP Wayne Marston who went out of his way to state that he was supporting no one because he hadn’t had time to compare the leadership candidates. Talk about a lame excuse. Didn’t Wayne co-chair the ‘days of action’ against Mike Harris with Andrea Horwath? Didn’t he see her potential then? Or does he know something the rest of us haven’t been able to detect about her leadership talents? There are only 10 members of the NDP caucus at Queen’s Park. Didn’t Wayne make time to talk to them since they announced their intentions, even once? Wayne, as Wayne always does, sits on the sidelines and lets others do the heavy lifting. It has worked for him thus far, but I predict Andrea will not soon forget his lack of enthusiasm or Paul Miller’s lack of political acumen.

Even though I am not an NDP supporter, I am pleased Andrea won the leadership. When Hamiltonians are brought into prominence, the community wins and gains some of that prominence. Now, Andrea has to demonstrate that she not only can hold the government to account, but that she has a compelling alternative vision to offer the residents of Ontario. This is her biggest challenge against a trusted and masterful leader such as Dalton McGuinty.

On the policy score I must make this observation. On Friday evening, I watched the leadership debate on the internet as it was being streamed live. There were from a low of 58 to a high of 73 other viewers watching it on their computers, according to the statistic in front of us. This was hardly a blockbuster event with Ontario residents. I watched a good portion of the debate as the candidates tried to articulate their vision of the province. I wasn’t that impressed. Other than the tried and true NDP bromides about free tuition for students, free transit, free access to community centers, free (well, not really free but reliable and affordable) hydro, a free hand to those who would blockade highways, no one other than Gilles Bisson addressed, while I was listening, how all of this largesse would be paid for. In fact Mr. Bisson made it a point to say, and I’m paraphrasing a bit, that ‘we New Democrats are good at saying how we are going to spend. Mine is the only campaign that also indicates how we are going to create wealth to pay for that spending.’ Bravo, Mr. Bisson! In a later statement his assertion that the rights of workers needed to be balanced with the rights of business was a refreshing statement for a New Democrat to make. He didn’t win the leadership, which says something about the party. But, if I was Andrea Horwath, the new leader, I would be assuring myself that Ontario citizens heard Mr. Bisson’s words as Finance and Manufacturing critic in an NDP caucus. It is a message that will resonate very well with voters and that is what Andrea will be keenly interested in as we run-up to the next election.

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