To The Polls!

It's that time, municipal voting time in Ontario. Choices, choices. Look at the candidates, what they have on offer, what their backgrounds have delivered, and make your choices. It's an often-difficult proposition, to feel comfortable in the knowledge that you're aware of the issues, the candidates' past performance, the level of their dedication to the tasks before them, and most of all what would really satisfy you, that you've voted for the best possible candidate to tackle the issues at this level of governance that most concern you as a voter, as a taxpayer.

And then there's that issue that no one really wants to discuss: that so few people are all that interested in, involved with, municipal politics. The level of participation in voting is always abysmally low, the lowest of all three gradients, and that's fairly universal in nature. Why that is is somewhat puzzling, given the fact that of all three levels of government, the municipal government is that which is closest to where we live in the very real sense of decision-making that affects us most personally and on a daily basis.

Here in Ottawa there are three main candidates, with others considered to be fringe candidates, those who cannot hope to attract more than a sparse minimum of interest and votes. And the three main candidates represent the political triumvirate of left, right and centre, although in municipal politics, unlike those of their provincial and federal cousins, we don't identify party affiliations, just proferred political/administrative qualities thought to be most useful for the city.

In Ottawa the incumbent, Bob Chiarelli, a former MPP representing the Liberal party and with the additional baggage/background of regional chairman (Ottawa-Carleton) at a time when that station of office was a reality is running on his record and on his aspirations for this national capital, and pushing hard for a very expensive and questionably-viable light-rail system to ease the growing problems of traffic/transit for the burgeoning population.

Then there is a newcomer to politics,Larry O'Brien; so new he has never run for public office before, despite which he claims his acclaimed business success is more than ample assurance that he knows how to run this city of over a million residents, encompassing a huge geographic area, including urban, suburban, rural and farming communities with all the headaches those varied and various constituents bring to the table. He represents a Conservative agenda and has gained surprising momentum of late.

Last, certainly not least, is the youngest of the candidates; well-seasoned as a long-serving municipal councillor, Alex Munter, who has always been able to make news in the past as a tilter-at-windmills. Still, a dedicated New Democrat whose interest in the nitty-gritty of effective governance has never been questioned. He has championed not-always-popular causes, but populist causes nevertheless. And in a fairly conservative, high-energy, highly-educated, highly-remunerated workforce he has seen a great deal of acceptance as a gay activist.

The city of Ottawa is concerned with many issues, including how to deal with the homeless, to achieve greater housing opportunities for the underprivileged, the provision of breakfasts for underprivileged schoolchildren, infrastructure development, fighting crime, municipal garbage collection, traffic congestion, transit development, to name but a few of the most urgent issues. There are additional issues which should be seen as urgent, but act as nuisance-events to candidates like Mr. O'Brien, such as that of the banning of pesticide use in the city; supported by both Mr. Chiarelli and Mr. Munter.

Ottawa has seen statistics lately which give proof that there has been a citywide increase in crime, but the total, inclusive of crimes of violence, property crimes, other criminal code offences, traffic offences come in at a modest 1% over a five-year tracking period; an increase that can be lived with, although everyone would be happier with a decrease. But at the overall crime rate for 2005 at 5,785 offences per 100,000 people, Ottawa is considered to be one of the crime-safe cities in Canada.

Mayor Chiarelli is running hard and playing fast-ball, promising more soccer fields, bike paths, police officers in schools to crack down on drugs, tougher sentences for young offenders and more city money for school breakfast programs. He has promised to keep property taxes down, and so does Larry O'Brien, but who wants more cuts to already-lean municipal services? But this is the same mayor who insists on foisting a costly and inadequate light-rail system on the city which will in the end have the effect of boosting taxes.

What is interesting in this contest is that the electorate appears to have determined we've had enough of Mayor Chiarelli; time to retire, move on to something new, and give someone else the opportunity to either deliver more services better - and represent what the city's taxpayers really want, rather than the pursuit of someone else's vision - or make the usual hash of things. Larry OBrien has turned out to be a surprisingly strong contender and he appeals to many in the community.

But what is truly amazing is that baby-faced Alex Munter who championed Gay Pride parades and worked overtime to bring to legality same-sex marriage, (neither of which brings me great joy) looks to have outdistanced both other candidates in popular opinion, and he stands a good chance of taking on the mayorship of Ottawa. He brings a sense of balance, determination and humanity to the task at hand and he has experienced years of active participation in municipal council affairs.

Looks as though there are enough people who believe he's served the apprenticeship and deserves the opportunity. Why not? And good on us!