The good, the bad and the ugly

(March 31) - Last week we were treated to the good, the bad and the ugly of municipal politics.

The good. The city is engaging in a lot of public consultation these days. Much more than we became used to in days of old. There were two meetings last week about the Natural Heritage Strategy. I went to the one on Tuesday. A couple of hundred other people also took the time to go. The room at the Holiday Inn was packed. The Wednesday meeting was just as full, I am told. Then on Thursday the Guelph Civic League held a meeting to discuss the development of the Hanlon Creek Business Park. The hall at Norfolk Street United Church was jammed.

There are more coming. Tonight at the West End Community Centre there is a consultation about how Guelph is going to grow. There is another on the same subject next Saturday afternoon at the Italian- Canadian Club. As long as the politicians listen to the citizens, all this consultation is a welcome step forward in our democratic process.

The bad. There were a lot of developers at the natural heritage meetings who chose to leave the room after the city made its presentation but before the feedback portion got underway. It is safe to say they don’t like it. It is too bad that many chose not to contribute thoughtful ideas in the small group discussions. They could have taken half an hour to share their perspective with the rest of us. Some did, most didn’t.

The strategy itself is shaping up as a useful tool to regulate and control development in environmentally sensitive areas. It provides for buffer zones around woodlots, wetlands and wildlife habitats. There are a lot of ambiguities in it, and more than a few loopholes. Some will give the city the flexibility to assess some proposals on an individual basis. Others will give developers a hook to hang onto if they choose to run to the Ontario Municipal Board. The city should close as many of these holes as possible. Then, after the strategy is finalized, they should use it and defend it. They must be willing to resist any challenges with whatever resources it takes.

The ugly came out on Thursday. The Guelph Civic League billed its meeting as a “conversation.” It became more of a confrontation. The degree of hostility directed at city council and staff was disconcerting. The Hanlon Creek Business Park has landed front and centre on the environmental radar screen. There are always legitimate concerns about any project of this magnitude. We always need to watch over the process and keep the impact of the development as low as possible.

It is nearly impossible to keep the process flowing smoothly when inquiring minds become closed minds.

There may be limits to growth.

There should be no limits to civility.

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Speaking of ugly, the provincial government has given up any pretense of fighting poverty. The budget last week missed a golden opportunity to help the most needy. The Liberals still refuse to end the clawback of the federal child tax benefit from families on welfare and ODSP.

Premier McGuinty is now speculating that the minimum wage increase scheduled for next year could be postponed. Yet he holds steadily onto the idea that corporate tax cuts will save the economy. After more than 20 years of experimentation, this should be declared a failure.

Someone once said that “no one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to do it solemnly.” McGuinty suffers this misfortune.

Ending poverty is expensive. So is bailing out corporations. Given a choice, which one should we take?