John BarberOpinionTues

Years ago there was a dispute in the neighbourhood. Some people wanted a one-way system to deter through-traffic, while others bitterly opposed any change. The ward councillor, the late Dan Leckie, twisted irresolutely in the midst of it, dodging action while calling for more meetings and study. The one-wayers lost patience with the dithering and angrily demanded an answer. But Leckie demurred.

One of the smartest things the outgoing provincial government did was to sell half of Hydro One, the monopoly utility that distributes electricity throughout Ontario. Too smart, in fact, as the province’s recent revolt against competence proved. A policy that made so much technocratic sense — transferring assets frozen as built infrastructure into infrastructure that needs building — proved fatally susceptible to emotional misrepresentation.