David Miller sworn in as new mayor

Recent speech includes proposals for city committees and Pantalone as deputy

There are many difficulties and obstacles ahead of us, but I feel confident that we shall overcome them all and make Toronto a great city once again," declared Toronto's new mayor David Miller in an interview to Tandem, on the eve of his swearing-in ceremony.
Last week the new mayor presented his proposals for the city committees and named Joe Pantalone as his Deputy Mayor.
Many Italian-Canadian councillors received important appointments, while some criticism came from those who feel penalized for supporting other candidates in the long campaign.
Miller displays absolute optimism about the future of this city. In the interview, Miller underscored that the difficulties are not merely financial in nature, adding, "There are important signs justifying optimism. These include," he said, "a new spirit of collaboration among the various levels of government, reassessed in last week's meeting with Liberal MPs and MPPs of the Greater Toronto Area."
Miller also stated his three immediate priorities. "First of all, the development of the Harbourfront, which requires blocking construction of the bridge between the city and the islands."
Miller noted that this problem will be tackled within the week and expressed his cautious optimism on the support he will get from the council. "The citizens of Toronto have stated their will very clearly when they elected me to lead this city." According to the new mayor, all the elements for developing the Harbourfront are in place. "We have the money, we have a beautiful plan, and now we have the leadership that had been lacking."
Another main item in Miller's 100-day platform concerns "bringing back integrity within the administration".
This is a delicate issue, but Miller believes that it can and will be done with the help of everyone. "We must open up the city to the contributions of its citizens, avoiding that the interests of a few may prevail on those of the whole community."
Miller claimed that things are already changing and announced the appointment of an independent commissioner that shall gain the trust of the citizens and will answer to them."
Returning on the meeting with the Liberal MPs and MPPs, Miller said, "it sends an important message for the development of Toronto, since the biggest hindrance to solving the problems of this city were born precisely from the fights between Ottawa and Queen's Park."
He reported, "The meeting clearly revealed everybody's willingness to work together and get these problems solved."
In closing his interview, Miller acknowledged the contribution given by the community of Italian origin to the development of this city in all sectors. "In economy, social development, politics, the media, and culture in general." According to Miller, the Italian-Canadian community made Toronto nicer, more liveable, and more European.
Such a contribution is apparent at all levels, "and I hope that my choice of Joe Pantalone as Deputy Mayor will be ratified," he said.
David Miller defeated John Tory and Barbara Hall on November 10, following a long and hard campaign.

THE SPEECH

Last week's ceremony was very simple but meaningful, with the changing of the guard being officiated by Ontario Superior Court Justice Roy McMurtry. In his speech, Miller renewed his pledge to reinstate integrity within the Council and to get citizens involved in public administration.
Of course, the most important parts of his speech were devoted to the controversy over the bridge.
Some councillors accused the mayor of trading positions on the new commissions with votes against the bridge, but the mayor rejected the allegations in a subsequent press conference.
The accusations came mostly from Giorgio Mammoliti, but later he toned down the controversy, concentrating on the matter at hand.
Miller did not minimize his concern for future challenges, but added, "I address you [councillors] with a sense of renewed optimism for all the citizens of Toronto."
The new mayor underscored, "all of us were elected with a specific mandate to reform and to prevent the interests of the few from prevailing over those of the many."
He reiterated his message for co-operation, not just with the Liberal governments in Queen's Park and Ottawa, but also within the City Council. He repeatedly mentioned David Crombie, the famous conservative mayor of the '80s who passed numerous social reforms, while he omitted any reference to John Sewel, an NDP former mayor who was attending the ceremony.
The audience also included John Tory, the candidate Miller defeated in the heated campaign that saw the favourite Barbara Hall also succumb. "I followed his speech attentively," said Tory, "and he repeated his main themes for the campaign. Now he must convince his councillors to support him. I hope he succeeds, for the greater good of our city. I can only wish him well."
Newly appointed Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone was understandably very satisfied. He underscored Miller's insistence on restoring integrity within the administration. "Miller was very specific," he remarked, "in stating that episodes like those that led to the computer scandal shall never happen again."
Councillor Peter Li Preti expressed his worries that Miller could face financial difficulties. "Of course integrity should be restored," he said, "but as cheaply as possible for the citizens. We now have an audit that told us who dined with this or that councillor. We spent $16 million and have very little to show for that."
On his part, Mammoliti is pondering his political fate, after being sidelined from all the important committees, including the Zoo Committee that he chaired under Mel Lastman. Mammoliti confirmed his support for the controversial bridge construction.
Optimism was the word for new Italian-Canadian city councillor Adam Giambrone: at 26, he's the youngest member of the Council.
He cast his vote against the bridge and in support of the mayor.

Publication Date: 2003-12-07
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3433