I was elected Mayor two years ago. Although I feel I have
settled in pretty well, many things still make me shake my head.
In fact there are few days when something doesn't surprise me about
municipal politics. In general, I find municipal politics much more work, but
much more rewarding than my previous role as a Member of Parliament.
A couple of things have again caused me to compare
municipal politics with other levels of government. The first was the campaign
among Liberals to win the nomination to run in my former federal seat, which
went to current Deputy Mayor Darren Fisher. It was an incredibly competitive
campaign involving five candidates, each of whom I know well.
Prior to the campaign I had been urged to seek the nomination. I was never seriously
tempted, since I had largely determined when I ran for Mayor that I would fill
out my term if elected. But beyond that, I enjoy my current role and find it
oddly liberating. But it is exponentially busier, not even comparable, to being
an MP.
The second thing that I have found very interesting of
late is the book released by Graham Steele, former finance minister in the
Dexter government. It is an enormously readable piece, and I enjoyed it very
much. I know some of the key figures in the Dexter government don't seem to be portrayed particularly favourably in the book, but I liked them then, and I
still do.
Former Premier Dexter is someone I have known for more
than three decades. He is a capable, dedicated man who made decisions in the
best interest of Nova Scotians. I often think of a brief chat we had at the
Dartmouth General Hospital lobster dinner a few days prior to his becoming
Premier in 2009. We moved away from the crowd for a moment. I was campaigning
for Liberals, particularly Andrew Younger in my own riding, but it was apparent
that the NDP would form government.
Darrell told me he had been thinking of my father, and
the challenges he faced as a Premier in difficult times. He had a good sense
that the joy of election night would soon be replaced by angst over difficult
calls for the new government. We have become an impatient electorate, largely
but not solely because of politicians themselves.
In reading Graham's book I didn't see bad guys in the
Premier's office. I don't think Graham did either. But what we see is the
result of a political system that forces decisions to be made by tightly held
cabals. Trust is in short supply, so only a very small group, often unelected,
form policy. Ideas seem to originate, be focus-grouped, and be considered
behind a veil of secrecy. They are produced by governments who expect their
members to support it, to be visual props to accentuate it, and read talking
points about it. To oppose your party position is disloyal, and the idea of changing
one’s mind is considered the greatest weakness of a politician. It should be
seen as strength.
These themes came up again when I spoke at the nomination meeting in Dartmouth Cole
Harbour. It was a chance to thank folks who had worked so hard on my behalf
while I was MP. Although I am a Liberal and that won't change, it was also my chance
to share a few lessons and some unsolicited advice for the successful
candidate.
No one individual is going to change the culture in Ottawa. Question
Period will still stink of feigned indignation and manufactured outrage on all
sides. But an individual can strive to better represent themselves and their
constituents. I suggested that refusing to send partisan garbage out to
mailboxes can make a difference. Not taking inane talking points from party or leaders' office
staffers, and spewing them into the public record is a positive step.
These may seem like easy things to do, but pressure will
come to 'support the Party.’ These seemingly small steps can be bundled to make
a difference and possibly change how politics is done over time. I spoke of
other steps that can be taken, and I would share those with anyone who was
interested in running for office, from any party.
I am not naive, and don't suggest that people can't be
loyal to their party. In fact, to be elected usually has much to do with party
and leader. I know: I ran under some incredibly good people who simply did not
sell well at the door. So to be elected under a party banner requires some
allegiance to said party. But it does not require that anyone sell their soul,
or become little more than a prop.
I don't despair for politics; I believe in politics. I
recently sat down with Graham Steele and talked about our respective views on party
politics. I asked if he had any reservations about writing a book that might be
taken as an indictment of politics. I think his view and mine were similar in
that politics isn't the problem. But what politics has become is a problem.
I told him that my experience is that municipal politics is
different. We deal in the open with issues that at other levels would never see
the light of day until they were 'fully cooked'. As I often say, it is more
difficult...messier, but is much more transparent and honest. And worth the
effort.
It is easy to sit in a municipal chair and see flaws in
other governmental systems. I get that. But there is something happening in
municipal politics. Where for years politicians started in municipal politics
and then moved up, today the reverse is happening. The Mayors of large cities
like Montreal, Vancouver, London, Mississauga, Ottawa and others come from
provincial and federal politics. In Nova Scotia former federal or provincial
leaders like Cecil Clarke, Don Downe, Robert Thibault are now municipal. Olivia
Chow and Judy Wasylycia-Leis are former colleagues of mine in the Commons who
resigned to run for municipal office in Toronto and Winnipeg. There are many
reasons, including the emergence of cities as the new 'nation states' of the
world.
But I can't help but think that part of it is due to the
opportunity to do politics, and leadership, away from the partisan trap.
