Miller names Davis to position

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Local Ward 31 (Beaches-East York) Councillor Janet Davis will finally take her place on Mayor David Miller's executive committee, if Toronto Council approves the move later this month.

Davis, a long-time New Democrat and Miller supporter, was notable in her absence from Miller's original slate for his executive committee. When Ward 35 (Scarborough Southwest) Councillor Brian Ashton was removed from the committee this summer after voting to defer the mayor's package of new taxes, Miller's first pick was new councillor Adrian Heaps, from Ward 35 (Scarbrough Southwest).

On Tuesday, the city's striking committee voted 3-2 to put Davis on the committee, as one of four councillors appointed by Toronto Council.

Ward 3 (Etobicoke Centre) Councillor Doug Holyday came in second place.

Davis wasn't at the committee meeting, but she was happy with the vote.

"Well I think it was a good show of support and I'm pleased with that," she said.

"And I look forward to seeing how the council votes, and getting into it and getting along with the work at the next executive committee meeting."

In the meantime, Davis said she's working hard to explain and sell Miller's two new taxes to her constituents.

"The residents of Toronto really have to understand the choices that we have at the city," she said. "With the residents I've talked to, after spending time talking about the financial situation, understand. We have to choose whether we want to have a bare bones city or whether we invest in the future."

Holyday called the appointment revealing.

"I'm not surprised," said Holyday. "I think the mayor's looking for people that will do his bidding and I'm probably not one of those. I can bring a different perspective to the executive committee - one that's needed. But when you look at the selection made, I guess the credential of being a steward in the CUPE union carries more weight than being a former mayor in one of our municipalities."

When asked to respond to Holyday's comments about her qualifications, Davis called them "unfortunate."

"It's unfortunate that Doug Holyday has to stoop to that kind of level," she said. "My background and my years of experience in the education and social service sector are broad and prepare me well for any position on any committee here. It's too bad he has to stoop to that level."