Well, since last I wrote about this, the political landscape has shifted. Current Mayor David Miller has announced he will not be seeking a third term in office. Prognosticators and pundits have been weighing in on Miller’s legacy – and who will succeed him.
I reported recently that George Smitherman (current deputy premier and Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure) had made some noise about possibly running for the coveted office. Since then, Smitherman has been coy about his intentions, saying only that he is exploring the idea.
George Smitheman may be shuffled out of Ontario Legislature before Thanksgiving
However, that may change soon. A report came out over the weekend that Premier Dalton McGuinty is planning a cabinet shuffle and our George may be shuffled out before the Legislature shuts down for the Thanksgiving Break. The political plot is thickening like holiday turkey gravy.
Now, I’m going to speculate. If this is true, there could be one of two things at play:
McGuinty is mightily displeased with talk of Smitherman abandoning his current responsibilities to run for Toronto mayor and this may be a political preemptive strike or, McGuinty is clearing the way for Smitherman to run for office in Canada’s largest city.
McGuinty has had a long and contentious relationship with David Miller and threw him under the bus during Toronto’s civic strike this past summer. With Smitherman in office, McGuinty could have an instant political ally that he knows well and trusts.
We’ll have to wait a couple of weeks to find out what happens to Smitherman’s current responsibilities and watch the resulting political shell game.
