Scene December 20 - January 16 - 2008 - Issue 557

by Richard Young

Politics can be defined as the process by which competing groups resolve their conflicts and make decisions for the public good. It is also often called a “blood sport” that takes no prisoners. To be sure, conflict is part and parcel of the political process, but what happens when that conflict threatens to jeopardize governance? Such may now be the case facing the year-old London City Council where a noticeable division into two almost diametrically opposing camps –the pro-business, pro-growth group lead by the likes of Tom Gosnell, Gord Hume, Roger Caranci, and Bud Polhill, and the so-called “smart growth” group nicknamed the Killer Bs lead by Joni Baechler, Gina Barber, Judy Bryant and Nancy Branscombe – has become obvious in recent months.

Reports of name-calling, finger-pointing, political grandstanding and “hissy-fits” have plagued the present council, particularly since early this summer when council began reviewing its official plan for growth, prompting Controller Gord Hume to claim that the present council is “mean-spirited,” lacking respect, and has “lost its sense of humour.” The recent removal of Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell from the customary position of Chair of the Committee of the Whole, the influential body that oversees all major issues facing council such as the sale of London Hydro and a proposed performing arts centre, seemed to bring matters to a head, and left many Londoners with the perception that perhaps the balance of power has shifted slightly from the pro-business folks to the Killer Bs and their supporters.

Scene recently posed five questions to some of the major players in this ongoing debate, including Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best; Controllers Gina Barber and Gord Hume; and Councillors Roger Caranci, Joni Baechler and Judy Bryant. Their responses follow each question.

Much has been said in the local media about the rancour and lack of civility that marks this City Council. Is it as bad around the “Horseshoe” as the general public has been lead to believe?

DeCicco-Best: “There will always be spirited passionate debate on the big issues like growth, and to expect unanimous agreement on all issues is unrealistic. From time-to-time debate has become a little too personal for my liking, but to a large degree reports of a total lack of civility are exaggerated, and are a good example of how the news outlets can sometimes ‘make the news.’”
Hume: “This council has a mean-spiritedness about it that I have not experienced before. It has lost its sense of humour and respect.”
Caranci: “The ideological views of some council members have made compromise difficult. Even though I myself have been called a ‘bully’ by some of my colleagues, I have never used a moniker to describe anyone on Council.”
Barber: “This Council is marked by inappropriate behaviour such as the sending and receiving of emails during debates, a lack of common courtesy, bullying and intimidation tactics, and the abuse of the rules of debate on the part of some to malign others.”
Bryant: “I honestly think that reports of a lack of civility have been blown out of proportion. Spirited debate is a part of democracy.”
Baechler: “It is the responsibility of each member of council to ensure that our conduct is professional and respectful of the varied and divergent opinions on council. When councillors fail to follow the code of conduct they should expect to be held accountable. There is no rancour or lack of civility when councillors behave in a respectful manner.”

Since the early summer, it would appear that Council has divided itself up into two recognizable groups – the so-called right-of-centre, pro-growth folks lead by the likes of Deputy-Mayor Tom Gosnell, Controller Gord Hume, and Councillor Roger Caranci, and the opposing left-of-centre, “smart-growth” so-called Killer Bs group lead by people like Controller Gina Barber, and Councillors Joni Baechler, Nancy Branscombe and Judy Bryant. First of all, is this division real or perceived; and secondly, if it is real, what impact had this had on governance in the City of London?
DeCicco-Best: “To begin, no one on this council is against growth as some in the media have suggested. It is the question of how growth should proceed that has divided council. Labels bother me, and I have stayed away from using them personally. Like-minded people have taken sides, but the record shows that it shifts according to the issues being debated. The divisions are not partisan in nature.”
Hume: “There has been consistency in the way in which some councillors have voted along partisan lines. Despite the fact that I am often lumped in with the so-called right-of-centre group on council, I see myself more in the centre.”
Caranci: “There is a definite left vs. right partisan division on council over the issue of growth.”
Barber: “There is a very real division between the progressive ‘smart growth” and the status quo ‘growth at any cost’ members on council. Although I’m not sure where the Killer Bs nickname originated, we’re having some fun with it right now.”
Bryant: “This is more perception than reality. But while we all think growth is necessary, some of us are more in favour of ‘smart, responsible sustainable growth’ than others.”
Baechler: “I don’t believe there are clearly defined camps on council. The issue that seems to cause the most concern revolves around how the city has been growing and the associated economic, environmental and social costs. There is no one on council who is anti-growth as some would have you believe. My constituents have told me they want the city to manage growth with the goal to keep taxes down and protect our environment and prime agricultural land. Others on council want the development industry to continue to decide where and how the city will grow.”

As the Mayor, Anne Marie DeCicco-Best is to a large degree expected to remain above the day-to-day fray of personality politics and if anything be an arbiter when conflicts such as finger-pointing and name-calling occur. How successful do you think she has been in doing this? Has she taken sides in the growing conflict between the two groups on council?

DeCicco-Best: “I have done my best keep council moving forward when contentious issues have caused conflict; issues like the Sun Life Application where a creative approach eventually lead to unanimity on council. I always want to find a way to bring council to a place where we can move on.”
Hume: “The Mayor has to be more engaged with what is going on on the Council floor.”
Caranci: “Anne Marie is a long-time friend and I respect her, while I know that we won’t agree on everything.”
Barber: “The Mayor has been very careful not to be identified with any group on council. She has been fairly effective in trying to find the middle-ground on contentious issues.”
Bryant: “Anne Marie has been a very good chair who gives everybody a chance.”
Baechler: “The Mayor does not engage in personal politics and many other members of council try to keep personal comments out of debate and will continue to do so. The Mayor has not taken sides as there are no sides to take.”

Some would perceive the Mayor’s controversial removal of Deputy-Mayor Tom Gosnell from the customary position of Chair of the Committee of the Whole as a nod in the direction of the so-called Killer Bs group. Would you like to comment?

DeCicco-Best: “It was not really about removal or taking sides, but more a re-assignment of duties. I found that Committee members were becoming too focussed on each other, rather than the issues and that the meetings were becoming too politically charged. I thought I could do a better job of moving the group forward and letters of thanks from council members bear out that belief.”
Hume: “This whole affair was poorly handled and like everyone else I learned about it by email. You’ll have to ask the Mayor what this decision implies.”
Caranci: ‘This was an unfortunate turn of events and I didn’t like the way it was done. Tom has always helped council re-focus on fiscal issues and fiscal responsibility. I have no doubt that certain members of council pressured the Mayor to make the move.”
Barber: “I don’t see this as a nod to one side or the other. Anne Marie has proven to be much more effective in running things as a moderator.”
Bryant: “It was more a case of many council members not being happy with the Deputy Mayor’s performance in that role.”
Baechler: “The Mayor has a responsibility and authority to ensure that council acts in a manner that is respectful and professional in conduct. She strives to be fair and reasonable in carrying out her responsibilities.”

What does the future hold for this council if the division continues to grow and perhaps even fester? Will there come a time when governance is jeopardized?

DeCicco-Best: “There will always be times when passions will come forward, but I and other council members will always be held accountable for our actions.”
Hume: “I am not prepared to let either side on council bring the governance of London to a standstill. We must always be moving forward.”
Caranci: “It may have already happened. Some members keep on bringing up lost federal and provincial causes and issues like the Taser controversy over which municipalities have no jurisdiction. It is like the movie “Groundhog Day” all over.
Barber: “I don’t foresee a time when governance will be in jeopardy. There are enough issues on which enough of us can agree to keep things moving forward. What has really happened with this council has been not so much a power-shift from one group to another, but rather a very vocal challenge to the status quo.”
Bryant: “There is no crisis at City Hall. We have done quite a bit, and I’m very optimistic about the future.”
Baechler: “London is no different with respect to conflict than the majority of councils I have observed across the region and across Canada. Councillors are elected to represent the interests of their constituents. We have divergent backgrounds and experiences. The nature of voting means we debate issues passionately and there will be tension. That does not mean we can’t agree to disagree. I expect members of council to be respectful of debate, to act professionally in their conduct and not to stoop to petty personal politics. If someone crosses the line, it is up to members of council to stand up and ask that member to account for their conduct.”

Has there been a shift of power at City Hall, or simply a vocal challenge to the status quo, as Controller Gina Barber claims? Will the existent acrimony among members of council continue to grow until governance itself is threatened? Perhaps the best answer to these questions can be found in Councillor Joni Baechler’s closing remarks in my interview with her: “Council is made up of individuals who are passionate about this city. We are all trying to do what is best for the city.”