Council needs its ‘sprinkling of shamers’

If there is a job description of the ideal city councillor, the translation varies from ward to ward, city to city.

The late Edith Montgomery spent every waking hour, it seemed, fussing and fretting over “runaway development” in Scarborough. The planning committee was her perennial post. Brian Ashton, meanwhile, attended to Guildwood Village ward issues only to pay homage to the political truism that “all politics is local.” Ashton was always seeing the big picture.

In addition — and this is where a cub reporter constantly sought out Ashton’s take on things — Ashton could sum up the most complex issue in a pithy, quotable, definitive sentence.

Ashton is retired, but reporters still tap into his skill. And so, what kind of councillors do we need at city hall?

“Council needs a sprinkling of ‘shamers’ — articulate, colourful characters able to capture public opinion and shame government into action, picking away at the status quo brick-by-brick,” Ashton said in an interview. Exactly what I’m saying. But, of course, the city needs so much more — as we’ll explore in the lead-up to the municipal election in October. As many as 10 of city council’s 47 wards could have new councillors after the election. The number of wards has been increased by three, and several councillors are retiring.

If you have not noticed, city councillors are independent and free of party affiliation or cabinet constraint or caucus solidarity. Each one is a free agent able to vote according to conscience and the needs and dictates of the local ward, or the entire city.

In analyzing the effectiveness and impact of a city councillor, pundits usually evaluate their influence on citywide issues or on matters affecting the whole, not particularly their own ward. It is assumed that a city councillor will look after the local interest of his or her constituents — potholes, sign bylaw infractions, noise issues, neighbourhood conflicts, speed limits, local parks, local development plans and the like. Ignore those at your peril.

There is also the general expectation that a local councillor has to side with the local constituents, sometimes against the better interest of the city. You get re-elected based on how well you look after the whiny, persnickety, demanding complainers in the ward.

But ward-heeling, while essential, does not a good and effective councillor make.

While the mayor is the only one on city council who’s elected by citywide vote, it takes the collective vote of councillors to advance any cause or issue. Mayors use force of will, political appointments to plum positions and long-standing alliances to get their agenda through.

A city government desperately needs scrupulous and independent-minded councillors who make decisions based on information and evidence — not based on a desire to please the mayor, curry favour and so secure a desired position as head of public works committee, for example.

That’s easier said than done. The pressure to “go along” is enormous. Too often, councillors informally “sell” their vote — that is, they vote for a cause in exchange for another councillor’s support of their cause.

Ashton’s call for “shamers” is interesting, especially in light of the integrity commissioner’s ruling that Councillor Josh Matlow crossed the line in criticizing former TTC boss Andy Byford. From where I sit, Matlow was bang on — and not just when talking about the TTC, but on much of the advice and analysis we get on the transit file.

The advice is too often corrupted. Staff too often support transit projects primarily because the sitting mayor is promoting that project.

The Scarborough RT uses a perfectly good technology (see Vancouver) that was allowed to deteriorate to its current awful state. One mayor pushed an LRT as a replacement and staff complied. The province even agreed to pay for all of it. A succeeding mayor pushed a subway, instead, and staff nodded approval. A third mayor promotes SmartTrack in the same corridor, forcing staff to twist and turn and dodge, dissemble, shilly-shally and manufacture support for both. One would expect that a councillor from Scarborough will say, “Yes, thank you” to such gifting of a subway. Y’know, who looks a gift horse ... But on issues of such citywide import, we expect the rest of city council to provide wise counsel, speak up and out and look after the overall interest of the entire city.

For that, Ashton’s words may apply. “Council needs a sprinkling of ‘shamers’ — articulate, colourful characters able to capture public opinion and shame government into action, picking away at the status quo brick-by-brick.”

That’s what Matlow has been doing on the transit file. We need more councillors like him.