Local councillors seek public comment

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Call them the "uneasy" seven.

Councillors who say they're worried Mayor David Miller is seeking unjustified new powers want to know if Toronto's citizens share their concern.

They're asking people to hear their case at 7 p.m. Monday in the Scarborough Civic Centre and mark opinions on a "ballot."

Miller is asking the province to let Toronto's mayors fire city managers on their own, instead of getting permission from city council first.

He also wants the mayor's powerful, appointed executive committee to be able to meet in private (the current rules say it can't), making it easier for Toronto mayors to steer council in directions they want.

One of the dissenting seven, Ward 37 (Scarborough Centre) Councillor Michael Thompson said no one knows what such powers will mean for citizens or how they could improve life in the city.

The group, which includes Ward 39 (Scarborough-Agincourt) Councillor Mike Del Grande, Ward 36 (Scarborough Southwest) Councillor Brian Ashton, Ward 11 (York South-Weston) Councillor Frances Nunziata, Ward 25 (Don Valley West) Councillor Cliff Jenkins, Ward 5 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) Councillor Peter Milczyn and Ward 17 (Davenport) Councillor Cesar Palacio signed a letter last week telling Miller of their concerns.

The seven questioned how this shift of power away from council will affect their own jobs, informing Premier Dalton McGuinty and Ontario's opposition leaders they are "uneasy that the mayor, who ran on a platform of consultation and collaboration, now seems to have changed his thinking."

Miller was invited to the Monday meeting in Scarborough, but won't be coming.

He doesn't need to, since the powers in question were recommended by two panels of experts in reports that speak for themselves, said Don Wanagas, the mayor's spokesperson.

"Everybody knows what those recommendations are and it's been thoroughly discussed."

Though insisting he hasn't made up his mind about the new powers and saying the discussion "has to be about the office of the mayor and not just David Miller," Thompson suggested the mayor's refusal shows "disregard for citizens".

"He seems to feel he does not have to come and put forward any position," said Thompson.

Though the panels have spoken, their members - some of whom declined his invitations to speak on Monday - say they support public discussion before changes, Thompson said.

People who attend the meeting, possibly the first of several, will be handed a "ballot" - actually a survey of their opinions. The councillors will also take comments through a group on the networking site, Facebook, Thompson said.