City hall intrigue: centrist councillors to talk agenda (and, hopefully, eat) at a downtown restaurant

The increasingly powerful “mighty middle” has stepped up the civic intrigue at city hall, according to the Toronto Sun. Apparently, a number of centrist councillors are planning an extracurricular meeting at a downtown restaurant (we’re imagining a mafia-like table in the back corner), where they’ll discuss which issues city council should take on next. According to one unnamed councillor: “There is a bit of a sense there is a vacuum right now, and a lot of work to get done. There is no agenda right now.” So far, the guest list includes Karen Stintz, Josh Matlow, Ana Bailao, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, John Parker, James Pasternak and “the dean” of the middle councillors, Josh Colle, though Matlow has already decided against attending and some are still undecided. As for what they’ll discuss, according to a participating councillor, the group isn’t interested in a power grab. Instead, they’ll offer Rob Ford a list of initiatives they’d be willing to support. It all sounds somewhat similar to the Responsible Government Group that formed during David Miller’s term—but, true to the spirit of collusion, the members of this alliance don’t even want it to have a name. [Toronto Sun]