Former Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni warns council has 'gone way left'
If former Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni returned to the council table, the first thing he would do is get the city to re-install the Sir. John A. Macdonald statue on its pedestal overlooking Gore Park in the downtown.
That, I think, most Hamiltonians would appreciate," said Di Ianni, during a March 10, Progressive Conservative event held at the Hamilton Club to celebrate former MP and Lieutenant-Governor Lincoln Alexander's legacy.
Last August, during an Indigenous Unity rally, organized by members of the local Indigenous community, activists tied a rope around the neck of the Macdonald statue and others pulled it down as people cheered and clapped. Hamilton Police did not arrest anyone involved in toppling the statue. It was eventually removed to a secure location by city officials.
In July council had voted 12-3 against removing the statue after Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann introduced a motion to remove the daily experiences of pain and harm and trauma" the statue in Gore Park causes for Indigenous community members.
Along with Nann, councillors Maureen Wilson and Brad Clark voted in support of the motion.
Di Ianni, who was mayor from 2003 to 2006, lamented how council has gone way left more than where it needs to be." He said several councillors, without naming them, don't believe in anything that creates wealth before you distribute it. They just want to distribute it.
They don't believe in lower taxes, they don't believe in public safety," he told about 30 people. They just want to virtual-signal council at every opportunity."
While there are some good people" around the council table, Di Ianni, who has run under the Liberal banner, urged the public to step up" and run for council. He referred to people who lean towards being a Progressive Conservative or Liberal to run for council to counter the NDP-led influence that has gripped council.
Di Ianni, who has become an "independent government relations professional," told the crowd he is not running for council in this fall's municipal election. He did seek the vacant Ward 5 seat last year after former councillor Chad Collins resigned to become the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Liberal MP. Di Ianni lost out to former Dundas Coun. Russ Powers in an 8-6 vote.
Di Ianni last ran for mayor in 2010 against Bob Bratina and came second, capturing 28 per cent of the vote compared to Bratina's 37 per cent.
In the 2006 mayoral election, Fred Eisenberger edged Di Ianni 43 per cent of the vote to 42 per cent.
We need some good leaders," he said.
Echoing those comments was recently elected Flamborough-Glanbrook Conservative MP Dan Muys.
Muys, who took over the riding from former Conservative MP David Sweet who did not seek re-election, said Hamilton has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the largest overnight cargo airports in Canada, yet the city is unable to seize upon these opportunities because of the leadership" at the municipal level that Larry talked about."
I will amplify (Di Ianni's) calls to get involved" in municipal politics, said Muys.