Uh...no.

"With the press this list is getting, it will be no problem to add a few hundred registered voters to it if necessary. Don't listen to what the councillors are saying about the high cost of looking into this - they are only fighting major ward changes because it will cost them their cushy incumbent position next election. We don't need new wards, we need different ones - and we need them to be VASTLY different in order to help topple the lassitude the incumbents drag into everything we try to do."

The above concerns the stumble that the ward boundary review petition has made, as noted in this Spec article.

For the time being, I'm keeping my thoughts to myself about how the petition effort was executed, but I do want to address the commenter's thoughts...because they really typify the disconnect-as-fuelled-by-anger&frustration that reactions of this city's residents often exhibit. (When indifference doesn't rule the day.)

1) "With the press this list is getting, it will be no problem to add a few hundred registered voters to it if necessary." First off, it's not getting that much press. Secondly, I agree; another kick at the petition can should easily result in getting a few hundred qualified signatories. At the very least. 

2) "Don't listen to what the councillors are saying about the high cost of looking into this - they are only fighting major ward changes because it will cost them their cushy incumbent position next election." Go to this post's title. a) I do not agree with the reasons councillors have given as to their reluctance, but I can assure you that their adamance has little to do with the prospects of not getting re-elected in 2014, and b) incumbents historically get in. Out of 60 races over the past four elections, I believe there were less than a handful that were unsuccessful.

3) "We don't need new wards, we need different ones - and we need them to be VASTLY different in order to help topple the lassitude the incumbents drag into everything we try to do." After referring to the title again, consider that a) It is highly improbable that any re-drawing will result in 'VASTLY' different compositions. If you read the OMB guidelines, you'll see that the three considerations other than 'relative population parity' pretty much preclude this happening. And b), putting a fine point on it, the element of 'lassitude' that's present in our governance that has the most impact (by far) isn't that of Council. It's that of residents. We, the people. So once again, for the umpteenth time, I'd suggest that we all take a look at the situation honestly instead of letting our self-righteous indignation completely ruin any semblance of propriety and credibility. 

It's comments such as this one that reinforces my belief that we're not –collectively– sufficiently mature enough to take our place at the governance table.

M Adrian Brassington