High expectations for Therrien, after a strong mandate

Mayor-elect Diane Therrien comes to her new office carrying an exceptionally strong vote of public confidence.

After capturing nearly 70 per cent of voter support and defeating outgoing Mayor Daryl Bennett, Therrien has broad authority to push through the core of her campaign message.

In terms of getting that done, all three-newly elected city councillors join at least four returnees who are generally in line with her agenda – a solid majority.

A strong mandate brings high expectations. Therrien’s supporters will expect her to kill both the $105million sale of the city-owned utility company’s electricity distribution side and any notion that The Parkway might be built in the future.

They will also be looking for a stronger move away from new subdivisions built on vacant land surrounding the city and toward higher-density, infill housing within the current city core.

And they will expect to see job creation in the “new economy” sectors rather than traditional industry.

An expectation for deep and effective public consultation should be the easiest to meet. Even councillors who supported Mayor Bennett would be happy to reduce the pressure of public criticism created by his abrupt style.

The challenge will be to balance consultation with decision making – on any controversial issue a portion of those who are consulted won’t get their way. It will be up to the new mayor and her council to deal with the fallout of unpopular decisions, assuming they do not always side with the most vocal faction.

The positions mayor-elect Therrien took over the last four years and during her campaign give a perspective on how she, and this council, might deal with those challenges.

The Parkway issue, although it has dragged on for more than 60 years, could be fairly simple. The last council put it on indefinite hold while ordering a series of studies that would point to better ways to handle future road construction, traffic patterns and public transportation upgrades.

That work could make The Parkway officially redundant. However, the new Progressive Conservative government at Queen’s Park could disrupt the process by making it easier for the traditional Parkway route to clear environmental hurdles.

In the short term that’s a wait-and-see. If the province does allow piecemeal construction of Parkway segments expect a battle to finish the portion south of Sherbrooke St., with the north section still in limbo.

The sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. to Hydro One could also be a quick call. Therrien appears to have enough support to kill it, although that would be a mistake.

If a majority is willing to swallow the financial penalties of cancelling the sale in the name of public ownership of utilities at any cost it will happen.

The housing development industry is wary of the new mayor, fearing she will oppose any and all traditional subdivisions.

However, Therrien softened her position during the campaign, referring to the need for “good” housing solutions that incorporate lower-cost and higher-density rental units.

Therrien has promised to work with all developers – private and public – to streamline the approvals process and provide a mix of housing types. That’s a solid approach, assuming that people who want to buy a traditional single-family home will be able to.

Come December, Mayor Therrien and her council will take on the job of putting all those variables in motion.