To the editor:
Over the past four decades, the composition of city council has been discussed in almost every term of council and among our citizens. Finally, we are seeing that City Council reform is moving forward.
You, the voters, will help decide what our future City Council looks like.
I hope you will take your cue on how to respond to the upcoming survey by the Council Composition Review Committee…. from a letter written last week by Shane Judge., “Ward councillors a blight on democracy.”
He argued rightly that in a city with master plans for everything from parks to fire service, we no longer need ward councillors.
Mr. Judge also pointed out that the most important principle in our local elections is that we should be able to vote for everyone that sits around the council table, not just a fraction of them.
When I entered the municipal election race in 2018, I decided to run for at-large. I believe that true democracy in our size of city is one in which councillors are elected by all voters.
Some may argue that certain candidates could be at a disadvantage in a system where all councillors are elected at-large. They say you need a whole lot of money to run at large and only the rich will win. I disagree.
The Bible says “By their deeds you will know them.”
This is true of municipal politics. You do not have to be rich, but you have to be engaged, to make a name for yourself. Good deeds and engagement will attract supporters who will help you raise the funds needed to compete. Remember, you are running for office to guide a $200 million operation. This is politics, not a play date.
I also note that the Indigenous community in the city hope to see one or more of their own sit on council. They claim this is best done through an at-large system where the Indigenous vote is not broken up by the ward system.
Finally, like Mr. Judge, I too hope to see the question “How many councillors, including the mayor, should be elected?” in the survey.
I hope you will answer: fewer than the 10 councillors plus a mayor the committee is currently considering. Our city administration is too big and costs too much. It’s become a dragon.
City council should be seen as if it is the head of the dragon. To slay the dragon, you begin by cutting off the head. Cutting councillors won’t save money in itself. But cutting the number of politicians sends a powerful message to bureaucrats that we want change.
We want a city that is efficient, one that makes good decisions in a timely manner.
I believe that the best composition would be nine: eight councillors plus a mayor, all elected at-large.
If you want a way to get neighbourhood feedback after the election, the at-large councillors can divide up the city into as many wards as they wish. Each councillor could take turns holding ward meetings to get that neighbourhood feedback.
The poor performers would find themselves losing entire neighbourhoods of support by the time of the next election.
Peng You,
Thunder Bay
