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 IanniNDP Impotence is Costing Hamilton Federal Support

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted June 2, 2009)

The Hamilton Spectator’s Editorial Board has cast a harsh eye towards the Federal government’s lack of support for our educational institutions. Mohawk College got the shortest of shrifts, according to the paper. In fact, McMaster University fared only marginally better. A big fat zero went to Mohawk for its much needed Fennell campus renewal. Mac got half of the $22M dollar upgrade for its nuclear reactor. The province gave the other half. No money was pledged for the anticipated downtown family medicine center and nothing was pledged towards the life sciences building at the McMaster Innovation Park. All of this is devastating news for the city. Perhaps the city itself, which has submitted proposals in the multi-million dollar category, will be the beneficiary of the Federal government’s educational stinginess. We can only wait with bated breath.

The question centers on who is at fault for the cold shoulder Hamilton has received? The Spectator’s editorial blames David Sweet, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. In fact, the paper erroneously calls him the only MP for the city, even though Dean Allison also shares part of his riding with the city. Is David to blame? If he is, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance must share the greatest percentage of blame. Diane Finlay, the closest cabinet minister we have to the city, is certainly to blame for not caring. But we shouldn’t be surprised; I would argue that the Federal government signalled its intent of snubbing Hamilton when they overlooked the city at the cabinet table. Mr. Sweet, who works hard, was bypassed. I recall as Mayor writing a letter to the Prime Minister asking for cabinet representation for our city. I pointed out that Hamilton had a long string of Cabinet members both Conservative and Liberal: Ellen Fairclough, Lincoln Alexander, Shirley Martin for the PC’s; John Munro, Sheila Copps, Tony Valeri, Stan Keys for the Liberals. The Prime Minister ignored my request. And the community is suffering.

But I would also argue that another real possibility for our inability to attract dollars from the Federal government lies in the opposition we elect to the government. Hamilton has Mr. Sweet and Mr. Allison representing the city in parliament. Mr. Sweet’s riding is fully in our city; Mr. Allison’s is only partially in Hamilton, ergo the oversight by the newspaper. However, we have Chris Charlton representing Hamilton Mountain; David Christopherson representing Hamilton Center and Wayne Marston representing Hamilton East Stoney Creek. Each of these MP’s is a New Democrat. The government knows that Hamilton, even if it took out its anger in an election at the Fed’s lack of support for the city, might likely vote for the fourth party (NDP), and not the Liberals who actually have the chance to defeat the PC’s and form government. In other words, the risk for the government is minimal if it knows its political future in this city is not at stake. On the other hand, if the votes went towards a viable alternative, then, my guess is the financial benefits would be very different.

Now, those who are reading this analysis will point to my bias. I was a candidate for the Liberal party in the last election. I was defeated by an NDP candidate. Therefore, my leanings are colouring my conclusions. I would challenge this criticism by simply stating the obvious. As cynical as it is, governments respond to political pressure. The NDP trio we have in the House will make some noise, but that’s all. The government will not feel the pressure of defeat from this source. It would from a viable opposition with a chance to oust the current government.

Therefore, the lesson for our city is obvious. If we want attention AND support, we must vote strategically. Electing NDP’ers might be good to hear noise, but it isn’t clearly good enough to hear the jingling of tax dollars coming into our city to help us with needed infrastructure programs. The only way for the government to make a believer out of me, even at this late date, is to support our city’s $400M dollar request for infrastructure programs. If the Feds do that, I will be the first to sing its praises.

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