Stintz attacks Miller for ‘bags, bottles, bicycles’

In a campaign-style speech Tuesday, Councillor Karen Stintz (Eglinton-Lawrence), a potential candidate for the mayoralty, accused Mayor David Miller of a lack of leadership and financial mismanagement while listing a litany of complaints about his term in office.

"The last three years of city council has been focused on bags, bottles and bicycles instead of the real needs of the city," she told a business crowd at the Marriott hotel, across the street from City Hall.

About 160 guests had paid $78.75 to attend the three-course luncheon hosted by the Economic Club of Canada.

"The strike is a symbol of the fact that Toronto is not working for Torontonians," she said. "We need a dramatic change in direction."

Following her speech, Ms. Stintz avoided questions about any aspirations to run for mayor. "I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about a new leadership and a new direction that we need."

Toronto’s next race is looming in November 2010. Candidates can’t officially kick off their campaigns until January, but some are already testing the waters and jockeying for position.

The right, under the banner of the Responsible Government Group, is hoping to field a single challenger to take on the left-leaning Mr. Miller. Ms. Stintz’s name often comes up alongside those of councillors Denzil Minnan-Wong, Michael Thompson and Rob Ford as possible candidates.

More recently, some have speculated that former Ontario conservative leader, John Tory may run. A recent poll showed he could best Mr. Miller in 2010 after coming close in 2003.

Tuesday’s lunch crowd included former city budget chief David Soknacki and fellow councillors Cliff Jenkins, Mike Feldman and John Parker — all members of the Responsible Government Group. Tim Hudak, new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, sat near the podium.

He told reporters later: "I’m always happy to see strong people who have a right-of-centre position who are interested in serving the city of Toronto."

He would not say if he preferred as a mayoral candidate Ms. Stintz, who is the councillor for his ward, over Mr. Tory who ran for mayor in 2003.

He did say, however, that he was concerned for the city.

"We are seeing sadly, under Dalton McGuinty, a city of Toronto that is not living up to its potential and in many senses, a city in decline."

Ms. Stintz’s speech, entitled ‘Making Toronto Work for Torontonians,’ criticized Mayor Miller for imposing fees for plastic bags and pushing for

bicycle lanes on major roadways. She decried new charges such as garbage fees, a land transfer tax and a car tax.

But other than saying that government needs to get "back to basics," focus on core services and monetize assets, she offered few concrete alternative ideas.

"I want to build a city where we are once again the leaders in transportation management; I want to build a city where we have a quality of life that is the envy of the world," she said.

She ended with what could be a campaign mantra. "I want what you want. I want a Toronto that works." The crowd stood and gave the councillor a standing ovation.