LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

David Miller Is a Friend To Hamilton

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted October 3, 2009)

The news came to me via a text message:  Miller not running again!  I was stunned to hear that, especially with fourteen months to go before the next election.  Why, I wondered, would a smart politician like David Miller don the mantle of a ‘lame-duck’ mayor while he still had to administer Canada’s largest city for more than a year?  Is there another Sarah Palin-like shoe to drop with a second announcement of resignation?  I doubt that.  In fact, I think the answer speaks to the man’s character.  He knows that seeking the Toronto Mayor’s job is a gruelling experience and wants to give the field of contenders or pretenders, as the case may be, ample time to announce, prepare and campaign. 

David Miller became mayor of Toronto when I assumed the mayoralty in Hamilton.  We first met via the telephone when he called for a meeting of ‘hub’ Canadian cities and didn’t invite Hamilton.  We had a cordial yet slightly testy conversation over the phone, and felt some sympathy for him when he told me that the conversation with Hazel McCallion over the same hub-snub wasn’t quite as cordial as the one we just had.  In the end both Hazel and I were invited to participate in some of the events.  However, I really got to know Mayor Miller when we attended the frequent ‘Big City Mayors’ meetings sponsored by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.  This is where his leadership really shone. 

It was very clear to me that David Miller was intent on seizing the opportunity to lead larger communities in their efforts to gain support for urban agendas from the Federal government.  Yes, other big city mayors also did their part: Larry Campbell of Vancouver, Gerald Tremblay of Montreal, Dave Bronconnier of Calgary, Pat Fiacco of Regina; however, one sensed that Miller was driving the national urban agenda.  For my part, I liked the agenda and supported it wholeheartedly.  It was good for cities and it was good for the country.  That agenda terminated with a ‘new deal’ for cities and the gas tax contributions which have translated into millions for communities right across this country.  Hamilton has been the beneficiary of the work we did in those heady days of the Paul Martin government.  To be fair, the Harper government has continued the contributions, in fact, making them a permanent fixture of the federal transfers.

I think Mayor Miller appreciated my support of the urban agenda especially when other local Ontario mayors took shots at Toronto.  I came to Toronto’s assistance by simply stating the obvious.  When others would lament in front of Ministers either federal or provincial why Toronto was getting so much, my refrain was usually, “Because Toronto deserves support”, but then quickly added, “But so do the rest of us.”  This was a much more palatable message for everyone to hear.  I think Toronto appreciated it, and so did the federal authorities who found cover in supporting Toronto as long as the rest of us received our share. 

I enlisted Mayor Miller’s help in trying to secure funding for Hamilton’s (and Toronto’s) social services needs.  I travelled to Toronto for a well-publicized meeting.  We did the mandatory photo op and exchanged football sweaters.  He got a Ti-Cat jersey and I received an Argo one.  (I wonder if he still has his, as I have mine.)  The story was covered by the Toronto resident reporter from the Spectator, Bill Dumpty.  Bill wrote a very unflattering story about Miller laughing at Hamilton’s entreaty.  Mr. Dumpty seldom got anything right in any of his reportage in my experience.  Perhaps that is why I don’t see his by-line in the paper any more!  In fact, Mayor Miller committed to being supportive.  He knew that Hamilton had a good case to make to the province; and as we worked towards righting the Harris government downloading, our city needed some extraordinary assistance.  I know he did his part to support urban funding initiatives with the provincial authorities.  The province has come through every year since we made our pitch in 2004.  This too has helped Hamiltonians with their services and their tax load.  It isn’t recognized as such but next to the building of the Expressway which is a very visible legacy, the Social Services funding was one of my biggest achievements as mayor.  Mayor Miller was also very supportive of Hamilton getting a seat on the new Metrolinx board.  I insisted on being part of the configuration at a time when the board was made up of sitting politicians.  Miller wanted Toronto to have considerable representation.  He publicly said at one of our meetings that he would agree to diminish his city’s representation by one seat if Hamilton was included.  At the end of the day, I believe we would have been included anyway.  However, it was a nice gesture from a friend and a colleague. 

David Miller called me just before the election of 2006 to wish me well.  He also called to commiserate after I narrowly lost.  Recently, he was at a function where one of my children was present.  She introduced herself to the Mayor and he in turn reportedly said some very kind things about me.  Now, his tenure as Mayor is coming to an end, on his own terms.  I will leave it up to Toronto historians to debate his legacy.  But as someone who saw him work hard on the national scene as well as the provincial scene.  And as someone who tried to follow some of the major issues that he was trying to deal with in his own municipality, I have nothing but respect for the job he did.  Politics is hard; and I take Mayor Miller at his word when he says he wants to spend more time with his young family.  However, I can’t help but feel that municipal leadership across this country will be diminished once David Miller leaves office.   My guess, however, is that we have not heard the end of his contributions to community and country.

HOME