There's nothing quite like cogency...

Out of The Mouths of Wabs

The serious look on her face tells me to pay attention as she sits down opposite me. "What's up?" I ask. 

"Just thinkin' about a few things about this whole 'ward boundary review' whatchumacallit."

"Oh...? Such as?"

She thinks for a moment, clears her throat, then launches. "I get why people started that facebook page. And why they did the petition. But I don't get why Council is reacting the way it is."

"How so?"

"It sounds to me like they're saying 'Hey look how great we've been working together. Don't unsettle our newly found positive working relationship!' Doesn't this request seem to be made whenever constituents approach them with an issue, concern or problem that approaches 'complicated' or 'contentious'?"

"That's a bit harsh, Brogan. All you have to do is-"

"Shouldn't we be capitalizing on a good working relationship by tackling these difficult issues, not worrying that they might start a fight?!?" 

I let her continue, because to be honest, she doesn't usually get this hot-and-bothered about such stuff. 

"This resistance, and...and worry expressed among councillors feels exaggerated. No!" she says, standing up and starting a back-and-forth march, paws behind her back, long ears straight up and twitching. "It's like 'Chicken Little'! Come on! They've got some good vibes around that horseshoe at Council! They've got some good chatter around the city!" She stops on a dime and faces me. "Take a leap! Make some changes! Make some waves. Use this as an opportunity to test your mettle as councillors and diplomats and potentially make a substantive legacy by examining different options for boundary reform! But, for Pete's sake, don't use your newly established confidence and team mentality to try and challenge a democratic and completely reasonable proposal by your constituents!"

Back to her marching she goes. "Are we to infer from this pleading that residents are a burden to a positive working relationship? Are we to infer that because there is a positive working relationship among councillors, that residents' concerns and suggestions are unwelcome because Council knows what is best, and how to prioritize and address everything? Why do I get the feeling that we are getting the brush-off? That they're saying 'We're fine. We're fine. Just trust us. We'll get it all done and let you know how it turns out. See you in the fall of 2014!' Because that's what it feels like to me."

"Well," I interject gently, "in fairness to Council, it can't be easy having something presented out-of-the-blue, knowing that you're legally bound to address it. Nobody likes to have their routine upset-"

"Upset-upschmet! The petition proposal is fair!" she says, face close to mine now. "They've followed the guidelines created by their forebears in governance, the O.. The O..."

"The O.M.B. The Ontario Municipal Board. And by extension, the Ontario Municipal Act."

"Right!" she says, continuing on without missing a beat. "And they created a thoughtful, respectful and reasonable proposal. Council should ensure that they're all practicing that due diligence they love to harp on about when they consider the proposal. And they better not dare force a situation in which the only option is for residents to drag this to the OMB without very, very careful consideration!" There's a prolonged pause when I'd swear she's revving her engine before she finishes off. "Don't underestimate the intelligence of your constituents!"

She snorts (!) and begins to perambulate once more. "I feel like the 15 councillors and mayor look at the 50 or so folks that do a great deal of community planning and advocacy and poo-poo the lot as 'unrepresentative of the city majority.' Well, for all we know, those 50 may well represent the silent majority better than the voting minority that provided that lot with their current jobs. We just don't know," she says, head going back and forth, back and forth. "We just don't know. But what we do know is the formal process was followed, the idea has merit, and because of those two reasons, as well as the reality that the proposal came from municipal constituents, the councillors and mayor should feel responsible to at least investigate the matter. Hey, if they even want to make a proposal or a couple of options and run a referendum during the next election- save some cash and do it that way. really make this an example of democracy at work. But jeesh, just give it a chance."

"Actually, Brogan, that train has left the station."

"What do you mean?"

"The review process is now in motion. Presuming the petition does have five hundred valid signatures, Council is obliged to move forward within 90 days with a ward boundary review process. One that, given the particulars of the situation, namely Hamilton a) being a 'forced amalgamation' community, and therefore possessor of some longstanding 'issues'-"

"The 'urban' versus 'suburban', 'amalgamation grudges', 'don't-awaken-The-Giant'' issues...?"

"-and b) a review has not been done in the decade-plus since amalgamation, really, really needs to be done."

"No matter that most councillors don't think that it's the right time for a review."

"Yes," I reply. "It's out of their hands now. They had the chance to set the agenda, to have a fully-inclusive mechanism in motion that could have been an invaluable, ongoing 'teachable moment' for the entire city. But they didn't, and the petition is the result. It's now out of their hands. They are obligated to initiate the review process, one that hopefully involves a consultant. All things considered."

"Oh," Brogan says, looking relieved. "That's good, then. What's for breakfast...?"