Scott Radley: Would a mayor Andrea Horwath run into problems with a Ford government?

In her four years at Queen's Park, how often did Donna Skelly hear something from Andrea Horwath that made her grit her teeth and get angry?

Almost every day," the Conservative Flamborough-Glanbook MPP says.

It wasn't just Skelly. Premier Doug Ford once famously said that listening to the NDP leader was like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.

Which leads to one of the truly intriguing storylines of this mayoral election. If Horwath wins, will her years of criticizing, poking and generally annoying the Ford government - the same folks still in power - hurt Hamilton by having our city represented by someone who isn't liked by those holding the levers of provincial control?

I think this is my biggest concern," mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis said at a recent televised debate. And it's the biggest concern of so many people that I meet as I'm knocking on the door."

The same could be asked of Bob Bratina if he became mayor and had to work with the federal government since he very publicly broke with the Liberals over that party's handling of the LRT. Though municipalities fall under provincial jurisdiction so it would seem to be less of a concern.

Either way, it is a legitimate worry?

Naturally, Horwath says no. She compares the political game to hockey players who go hard against each other then go for a beer.

When asked if this was the case, Ford's office pointed to a statement he issued not long after his former foe announced she was running.

As I said the day after the election, let there be no doubt that Andrea wakes up every day ready to fight for what she believes in. I want to thank her for her years of public service, both as the leader of the opposition and as MPP for Hamilton Centre," he said.

Not sure that really answers the question.

Neil Lumsden is a Conservative who represents Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. He's new in the role so he wasn't there to deal with Horwath over the years but as a local MPP he'd have to work with her. What does he say?

Whatever is going to be good for Hamilton, I'm for."

Again, not sure that really clarifies things.

So back to Skelly. She admits Horwath regularly infuriated her. Would this be an issue if she became mayor?

To think that the doors will never be opened or the phone calls will never be returned, that's just nonsense," Skelly says. That's not how professionals work. I don't believe any minister in my party would not return a phone call or work with her."

Have to think that answer might surprise a few folks.

Skelly says any suggestion that the minister of municipal affairs wouldn't work with Horwath, or that the minister of health would blackball Hamilton hospitals is absurd." She says the same goes for Bob Bratina, who's been a Liberal MP. Or with Loomis, who hasn't been officially affiliated with any party.

Instead, she says she'll sit down with whoever wins right away to discuss issues and try to find solutions.

Of course, Skelly doesn't speak for the entire government. Others may feel less charitable toward Horwath. Still, as the senior local MPP representing the governing party, her words matter on this one.

So maybe this isn't an issue after all.

Or maybe the wrong question is being asked here.

Rather than wondering if bad blood persists which could affect this city, perhaps we should be asking about the ideological hurdles that would be involved in having a left-leaning, former NDP leader asking a right-leaning Conservative government for help to implement an agenda. A government that has already disagreed with her on a regular basis. And on pretty much everything.

That would seem to be where we might find the real challenges.

Personalities might be able to be overlooked but philosophies and beliefs could surely be a stumbling block. Whether it's Horwath or any of the others. To that point, Skelly says there's something else to remember. In our system, the mayor gets just one vote. So the makeup of council will be just as big a factor - if not bigger - than who's wearing the chain of office.

If Hamilton's newly elected council veers way left, you'd expect many of the projects and proposals it would endorse could collide with a provincial government that tilts right. That's where you might run into real roadblocks when it comes to seeking funding.

But Horwath alone?

I know we are not going to share the same views on many, many, many issues," Skelly says. But that doesn't mean we can't put that aside and say, OK, how do we resolve this?' ... it (wouldn't) be personal. Not with Andrea and myself, I can tell you that."

Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com