Cracked

It is one of the mixed blessings of our political culture that our memories tend to be rather short. Accomplishments and failures of previous administrations are often forgotten or misappropriated as the next lot takes over. This seems particularly true of municipal politics. Although every city council has long-serving members, mayors tend to attract attention only when in office. For all their notoriety, one hears little discussion of Sam Sullivan (Vancouver), Mel Lastman (Toronto), Sam Katz (Winnipeg) or Andy Wells (St. John’s) after their departures. Polarizing figures they may have been, even national laughing stocks occasionally, but once gone they are confined to the realms of pub trivia.

Even in Toronto there is little talk of Canada’s most infamous chief magistrate these days, although he continues to serve as a city councillor. It is as if the slow painful exit of Rob Ford from the public stage has been relegated to some dark corner of Toronto’s collective...