Mr. Streatch, who has spent a decade on council, said he first ran municipally because he wanted to make a difference in his Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley district.Hah! "Make a difference"---what a knee slapper, that Streatch!
Streatch is well known for his repeated absences from council meetings. "Streatch had one of the worst attendance records at council over the past year," wrote former news editor Mike Fleury in his 2007 council report card. "Between June 1 and May 1, Streatch missed almost one quarter of all Regional Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings."
"I believe my time is more valuable than going back and forth," said Streatch when he was called out on his absences. "I find it a waste of my time, which I consider valuable. Regional council is one of my jobs. I have a family farm...."
True to form, last night Streatch wasn't present for the public hearing for the HRM By Design plan for downtown Halifax, meaning he won't be able to vote on the proposal when council considers it May 26. The hearing drew over 60 members of the public, perhaps the largest turnout for a public hearing in HRM history. But no matter---Streatch was feeding the pigs or something.
It's anyone's guess if Streatch will show up for next week's budget hearings. Like fellow councillors Debbie Hum, Andrew Younger and Jim Smith, he'll be out on the campaign trail, so who knows how much of a difference he'll be making for his Eastern Shore constituency. Likely, none.
