Stop Trying to Divide Us, Mark
Stop Trying to Divide Us, Mark
Happy to play the politics of division, but quick to criticize everyone else doing the same. Here's how Sutcliffe could do better.
Sutcliffe makes a fair point
In a recent Globe and Mail op-ed, Sutcliffe points out how toxic public discourse has become:
“Nobody seems to like the decline in civility, but people contribute to it anyway. I’m often amazed by how many decry the nastiness and vicious polarization of today’s politics as if it’s something entirely outside their control”
But here’s the problem. Mark is one of the people pumping the politics of division.
Can’t have it both ways
Eight days before his op-ed in the Globe, Mark was sowing the seeds of division between rural and downtown residents on Twitter:
“We don’t want you to feel like people in downtown Ottawa are deciding how you should operate your farms or live your lives”
That generated a backlash. People were rightfully calling him out for making ridiculous statements that had no purpose other than to polarize one group of residents against another.
It was a repeat of one of his more memorable campaign lowlights:
“They want you to walk or ride a bike, no matter where you live, no matter where you're going … you're not going to take your kid to ringette practice in February on a bike.”
Again, an absurd statement that has no purpose other than to pit one group against another.
A more concerning example recently happened around the City Council table. Sutcliffe chaired a Council meeting (see below) in which Councillors Luloff, Hubley and Tierney insinuated corruption by another councillor. As Chair, he could have nipped in the bud the nastiness and vicious polarization happening around his own Council table — instead he let the politics of division triumph.
How to do better
I’d like to see the Mayor make an effort to bridge — rather than divide — the different communities in Ottawa. Here is how I’d suggest Sutcliffe could do better:
Stop putting out videos designed to pit one group of residents against another.
Own up to past mistakes. Acknowledge that his communications have been divisive, and commit to doing better going forward. Apologize even!
Do something — anything — to recognize the priorities of residents in central Ottawa. He’s gone out of his way to cater to suburban and rural voters. When I think back to his videos (rural summit, Brian Coburn extension, federal funding for shelters, Greenbank Rd, Lansdowne 2.0, Queen Elizabeth Driveway) I can’t recall a single time he has championed a major priority for urban constituents.
The residents of Ottawa deserve better. Instead of harnessing the politics of division, our Mayor should be trying to find the common ground among the people of Ottawa.