Spotted at City Hall

You never know who's going to turn up at City Hall. This morning, it was former mayor Larry Di Ianni and MPP Ted McMeekin.

Di Ianni - who is looking a little more relaxed than when I saw him last on the campaign trail - was in and out of councillors' offices all day. The interesting thing is, he was lobbying with Wilson Nolan, the CEO of Liberty Energy. That's the private company that wants to partner with the city to build a garbage and sludge incinerator. I wrote a big article in yesterday's paper about how the city is revisiting its garbage policies. It seems that the Larry/Liberty team is reaching out to councillors just as they're about to decide what to do about Hamilton's waste. (I've said it before and I'll say it again -- this is why the city needs a lobbyist registry).

Another interesting tidbit is that Larry is holding a fundraiser tonight to help pay off his campaign debt. It was originally scheduled for Feb. 2 - the day of the big groundhog day storm - and rescheduled for tonight. Apparently his rivals Fred Eisenberger and Mayor Bob Bratina will also be there.

McMeekin walked up the stairs as I was chatting with Larry. They shook hands, then Larry thanked Ted for the province's $22.5 million injection to the Pan Am stadium.

McMeekin said he wasn't at the Hall for any particular reason -- apparently he was just in the area buying Backstreet Boys tickets for his daughters and decided to stop by. I asked whether he was going to the concert too -- but Ted said he was sitting this one out. 

We're deep into budget discussions at City Hall, but I will keep you posted if I see any other notable comings and goings!

Comments

[ed]

The pure gluttony of backroom politicians rubbed right in our collective noses.

[Matt]

Larry's antics aside, I do like that Ted is making regular visits to City Council- I wish more of our representatives from upper levels of government would do the same, maybe it would reduce the amount of disconnect between governments.

[Gabriel]

Toronto has had an Office of the Lobby Registrar since Feb 2008. They staff 5 people with 2-3 positions currently vacant. Their staff handle lobbying for 44 Councillors and 1 mayor. Hamilton could make due with less than half the staff.

The Toronto By-Law governing Lobbying is here - http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_140.pdf

Thanks for the info. I hope one day you never have to say that again about lobbying

[Mark-Alan Whittle]

I'm still the only person listed on the voluntary Lobbyist Registry, which should be mandatory.

The committee tasked with drafting this legislation has yet to be reconstituted for 2011, and has yet to meet.

Obviously there has to be more than a few lobbyists plying their trade in Hamilton, only a fool would think otherwise.

That's Hamilton, get used to it.