By Pepper Parr
August 9th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
In a statement released by Mayor Meed Ward recently she said:
Burlington Council is very cohesive and collaborative, with more than 90% of our votes being unanimous, and the balance of votes with strong consensus around options. We work well together and I know that will continue regardless of whatever changes are made to the role and function of the mayor.
There is an opportunity to see just how well Mayor Meed Ward has worked with her council.
CLICK for the link.
Well, an election is coming, and the knives are out. I guess we are now in for endless replays of favorite negative incidents of incumbents, empty claims from aspirants that they would have done better. Pepper, as a journalist, you are in danger of crossing a line.
I must have been watching a different video…..Shawna Stolte appeared not to understand that there are rules (including the mayor’s prerogative to amend the agenda at her discretion) in place to govern council meetings, interrupted repeatedly, and chose to make a gratuitous personal attack on the mayor’s integrity. That’s not the kind of behaviour that contributes to creating a highly effective group. And neither is breaking Council confidentiality, which would be cause for termination in the private sector.
Editor’s note Hans Jacobs lived in Burlington for more than 30 years. He now lives in Courtenay BC, still has many friends and acquaintances in Burlington and retain a strong interest in the City.
Hans Jacob, thank you for you very on point comment. I have been voicing the same for a while now.
Editor, just what does it matter where Hans Jacob lives ? What point are you trying to make?
From past experience MMW works well to anyone that bows to her.
If the mayor really believes that she works well with her council she is definitely out of touch with what residents saw when watching council meetings.
The clip which is included in the above article needs to be watched by all. It shows just how cohesive this council is. It shows a mayor going after a councillor while the others sat mute and allowed this to take place.
What was more concerning was that this was a staff issue that should have never come to council, yet alone be taken on by the Mayor.
It was interesting to watch the City Manager, who is responsible for all staff hirings etc. to sit back and say nothing.
Mr. Parr asks the right question and, wisely, leaves the reader to arrive at their own conclusion. Here is mine and it is only mine. The context for the quote referenced in the article was Meed Ward’s response to the Ford pronouncement that he was proposing to give the Mayors of Ottawa and Toronto veto rights over their Councils. Meed Ward (along with the Big City Mayors) was very quick to support “investigating” the broader application of this veto power and cited the remarkable synergy of the Burlington Council in support. ‘We’re a cohesive group anyways, are we not?’ Well, no, and the video clip attached to this article demonstrates more vividly than words could ever do, how dangerous such power would be if placed in the hands of any Mayor. It is particularly worthwhile to watch the expressions of Council members (even Galbraith and Nisan) and the City Manager while our Mayor attempts her ‘ad hoc’ agenda management.
Whether you are one of her many followers, true believers in her brand of social media populism, or one of her detractors, often once part of the faithful who now view her with an open cynicism – Marianne Meed Ward is, I believe, a divisive figure; she polarizes. There are few in Burlington, if they draw breath and are on the right side of the grass, who don’t hold an opinion on Her Worship. She is exceptionally charismatic; she can make someone feel that they are the only focus of her interest and commitment. She attracts followers as if by a force of nature. She is also resourceful, insightful and one of the hardest working politicians you are likely to meet. She picks the popular issues and rides them until they are exhausted. And she knows no “time out”. If she fails in something, it will never be because she has not put the time and effort into winning. But she can also be, in my opinion, impatient, spiteful and self-absorbed. She does not appear to forget a slight or a perceived harm and she seems to lose perspective when an opportunity to “get back” presents itself. Her treatment of Shawna Stolte is a glaring and shameful case in point. So, does she work well with her Council? I would suggest that if the criteria are toleration of opposing views, natural ability to lead or a desire to selflessly mentor all subordinates equally, then the answer is a rather resounding “NO”. But this is only my opinion and my conclusion, of course.
Blair Smith
I think you must have had one too many wobbly pops celebrating your birthday before writing that comment.
But I guess October will be be telling.
Emphatic NO