OPINION: Democracy disrespect

This is an election year – Thunder Bay’s municipal election will be held on Oct. 17, a little more than six months from now and a provincial election may be called even sooner.

Anybody standing for election should be on their best behaviour and be very mindful and respectful of voter concerns.

People like Keith Hobbs, who hopes to reclaim the mayor’s chair, and Andrew Foulds, who hopes to dethrone Mike Gravelle in Queen’s Park, for instance.

I would expect them both to demonstrate their best style of community leadership, preferably the compassionate, caring variety.

But I was shocked and dismayed by the rude, defensive behaviour by some members of council last week in the face of what appears to be a somewhat divisive event centre.

I haven’t witnessed such blatant disregard for public opinion since Vladimir Putin took over Crimea.

OK, I admit it – that may be a slight overstatement but city council, especially the mayor and the would-be MPP, are using very questionable tactics to deal with public deputations.

It all happened on March 17 in council chambers where a number of concerned citizens were appearing before council to voice their concerns.

It is very daunting to appear before council and these citizens should be commended for actively participating in the democratic process.
Instead, the citizens were condemned by aggressive councillors who appeared impatient, irritated and even hostile toward their fellow citizens.

The guest speakers probably weren’t expecting to be bullied, belittled and disrespected for their views, but they were.

Frank Armiento really seemed to rub council the wrong way and his suggestion that ward councillors do not represent the entire city rattled a few cages.

But this is why he feels that large expenditures such as the event centre should go to a city-wide plebiscite.

Coun. Giertuga (2,027 votes last election) countered by asking Mr. Armiento why he had run twice in the Northwood ward if he had no respect for the ward system.

He replied that it was the easiest way to get on council since you can be elected with a small number of actual votes, and added, “You guys all did it.”

The gallery guffawed but council was not amused by his observation.

There were other deputations, including one in favour of the proposed event centre, but the need for a plebiscite was challenged and summarily dismissed as a ridiculous notion.

The mayor was irritated enough to make a few caustic comments himself while rolling his eyes at the ignorance of the taxpayers.

“You don’t even know the economic impact of the event centre,” he barked sarcastically.

One after the other the citizens making deputations were scolded by council and their ideas were ridiculed – that’s no way to treat potential voters in a democracy.

But the most heartbreaking spectacle of all was the way Coun. Foulds lambasted concerned citizen Joanne Richard during her deputation.
It was a rude, insensitive display of poor manners by a man who was elected with just more than 3,500 votes and claims to represent us all.

At one point he slammed a pile of technical reports on the desk in front of him like an angry teacher having a temper tantrum.

I’m sorry Mr. Foulds – I can’t speak for all Thunder Bay taxpayers but your disappointing performance that evening does not represent my view of good governance.

I wonder how the rest of council feels about the behaviour of their two abrasive colleagues.

These gentlemen would do well to respect the democratic process that got them elected in the first place.

Even the citizens of Crimea got a referendum.