"If he has achieved nothing else in his second term as Toronto's mayor, David Miller has learned how to take a punch," Adam Radwanski writes in this weekend feature . "Rival city councillors; union leaders; senior federal ministers; the art directors at Macleans magazine: All have lined up to hit him with their best shots, and many have landed.
"Dalton McGuinty, no street fighter, does not throw punches. But the sense one gets from talking to those around him is that next winter, when Mr. Miller makes his usual plea for provincial assistance to make up the city's budgetary shortfall, the Ontario Premier might do something far more damaging to Mr. Miller. He might turn his back on him.
"There was a time when Mr. McGuinty could not have seriously considered doing any such thing. In 2003, when both men won their respective positions, the Premier needed the Mayor as much as the other way around."
But, Mr. Radwanski writes, there's now a belief among some of the Premier's advisers that Toronto's mayor has abused their patience. While McGuinty has made controversial decisions, Miller has coasted. Rather than using up his own political capital to get the city's finances in order, the mayor has taken the easy way out by leaning on the province. So now Queen's Park is considering turning off the tap
With all that in mind, Mr. Radwanski, a Globe blogger and editorial writer, joined us Monday to discuss the relationship between the Premier and the mayor, Queen's Park and city hall.
