Joan Smith was an Attorney General in David Petersen's Liberal cabinet in 1989. A phone call in the middle of the night from a distraught constituent brought her to a police station.
The resultant uproar from the opposition, NOT THAT SHE WAS seeking preferential treatment on the basis of her office for a constituent but that it might appear to be so.
The Honorable member submitted her resignation . It was accepted by The Honorable David Petersen.
It would appear not only the standards of yesterday are no longer observed. But modern age politicians are not even aware they exist.
As I watched question period on Tuesday another memory came to mind.
Education Minister Liz Sandals was responding to a question about the loss of day care spaces as a result of the government's introduction of all day kindergarten.
The Minister was seasonally clad in cyclamen jacket with satin tuxedo style lapels
Her style of presentation reminiscent of an experience I had on the hospital board.
A fund-raising tea being organized by the Women's Auxiliary had to be approved.
I asked why permission was needed from the all- male board .
The President of the Auxiliary responded in a tone heavy with long-suffering forbearance.
"We don't mind Mayor Buck"
The Honorable Liz Sandals answer was longer but the tone was maintained throughout.
Answer completed, she flounced down so hard in her chair, she bounced .
The Honorable Premier and the Minister are both former school board trustees.
Trustees were always inclined to define themselves differently to politicians Like the President of the Women's Auxiliary .... being engaged in a higher purpose and all that.
It occurs Premier Wynne's need to demean municipal politicians may have a deep-seated prejudice
as well as the need to deflect public attention from their own conduct of the people's business.
Unfortunately, municipal politicians themselves seem to have lost all awareness of the dignity of
elected office.
They are fighting a rear guard action.
Thursday, 11 December 2014
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5 comments:
I's too bad that it isn't obligatory for all people having the right to vote in this country that they MUST attend either the federal parliament, a provincial legislature or municipal council meeting for at least five days per year.
This would provide them with a grasp of just how politicians go about the public's business.
18:27- Government wouldn't want that to happen. Civil unrest would spark. They are quite happy only having 1/3 voter-turn out. It would cost a helluva a lot more money to please anymore. Right now the entitled is all they can afford.
It is ironic that Ms Wynne now finds herself involved with the TDSB mess. She was a trustee to be feared in her days.
Politicians were never on the short list of what you wanted your kids to be when they grew up.
Pity the chair she flounced upon
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