PUBLIC OFFICE IMAGE REHAB — Politics doesn’t have the same pull as it used to.
Tuesday marked the return of the “bear pit” at the Association of Municipalities Ontario’s annual conference, a spectacle that gives municipal leaders an opportunity to ask whatever questions they want to a phalanx of Ontario Cabinet ministers. There were 28 Ontario Cabinet ministers on stage at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday: MICHAEL TIBOLLO, MICHAEL PARSA, GEORGE PIRIE, PRABMEET SARKARIA, GREG RICKFORD, KALEED RASHEED, MERRILEE FULLERTON, VIC FEDELI, STEPHEN LECCE, PAUL CALANDRA, NEIL LUMSDEN, GRAYDON SMITH, KINGA SURMA, SYLVIA JONES, STEVE CLARK, CAROLYN MULRONEY, DAVID PICCINI, PETER BETHLENFALVY, MICHAEL KERZNER, DOUG DOWNEY, LISA THOMPSON, TODD SMITH, JILL DUNLOP, RAYMOND CHO, MICHAEL FORD, PARM GILL, STAN CHO and CHARMAINE WILLIAMS. But not everyone had a chance to speak. — Airing of grievances: One delegate brought up issues with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway “refusing to pay their share of costs for municipal drainage work on railway property … essentially asking Ontario's property taxpayers to foot the bill for project costs.” Another delegate from Northumberland county asked the provincial government to look at rolling out an advertising campaign to get more people involved in politics at the municipal level because recruitment has become a real challenge. “Every member of their council wants to be acclaimed, including two open seats,” she said. “It’s really hard to get inclusion and diversity if we have people asking to be nominated.” The applause that broke out throughout the room echoed the speaker’s commiseration. Municipal and Housing Minister STEVE CLARK answered the question by pointing to the attendance in the room, saying the crowd looks different than it did a few years ago. We need more people involved in politics, he said, but blanked an opportunity to bring in colleague CHARMAINE WILLIAMS, associate women’s social and economic opportunity minister, to weigh on a topic relevant to her portfolio. — Best/worst EV non-sequitur: When the topic of noise pollution was raised, specifically over cars with loud engines. Clark said he would look into existing legislation that could be utilized to protect the health and well-being of communities. Adding to Clark’s comment, Long-Term Care Minister PAUL CALANDRA chimed in, sitting at the other end of the stage, to say rest assured, electric vehicles are quieter. Do you enjoy Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who may like it, too. Hit forward. Click here to sign up to this free newsletter. | 
