John Godfrey's announcement that's quitting politics sparked warm words of praise from Toronto Mayor David Miller - and a slap at the federal New Democrats.
Godfrey is leaving Parliament Hill next July to join the Toronto French school.
Miller hailed Godfrey, the Liberal MP for Don Valley West, as an elected official who "acts and succeeds on principle - not for narrow partisan advantage."
"Mr. Godfrey was interested in achievements, not in taking credit for them," Miller said in a statement posted on the City of Toronto website.
Because of that, Miller argues that Godfrey never got proper credit for his "extraordinary accomplishments" as minister of for cities and communities under former Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Soon after being named to the post, Godfrey built a strong partnership that gave the coalition of big city mayors direct input into the development of federal policies, topics like childcare, housing, public safety and infrastructure funding.
"John's leadership created a template for nation-building that recognizes Canada's cities must be partners in intergovernmental decision-making if our country is to achieve its full potential," Miller said.
But Miller complains that Jack Layton's decision to side with the opposition parties to topple the minority Liberals, resulting in the election that brought the Conservatives to power, has set back Toronto's interests.
The city was just "days away" from signing a new agreement to establish a permanent framework for co-operation between City Hall, Queen's Park and Ottawa "when the New Democratic Party brought down the Liberal government.
"Such an agreement will inevitably become reality because it is the right and responsible thing to do. It will stand as yet another of Mr. Godfrey's legacies," Miller says.
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