It stands to reason that an extra set of hands makes for lighter work.
When challenges mount it’s only natural to look for a partner.
Quite often partnerships are great. In the best of circumstances working with others is a way to share the workload and really get moving ahead.
When labour or activities are shared fairly and apportioned wisely, partners can add tremendous value by doing what they do best.
It’s amazing how much can be accomplished.
But the world is full of examples where partnerships fizzle and end in an irredeemable business relationship. Quite often one part of the equation slacks off a bit or takes the other for granted. In time, resentment builds and bingo – the partnership dissolves.
This outlook may give the appearance of being negative, but it’s an attitude borne of experience and perhaps why we have turned down many opportunities presented to us as a partnership.
We have found it better for our operations to support those who support us by reciprocating service. That way everyone gets a fair shake and each party can do what they do best. People can cooperate without a full blown partnership arrangement.
That is maybe why talk of partnerships a few weeks back when the premiers met for their summer conference got under our skin a little. It’s another dose of political jargon that will only cost money and time.
Premiers expressed a desire for a new partnership with the federal government. This they claimed would be the solution to funding issues.
The same commentary will probably crop up at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference later this summer. There, municipal leaders will talk about the need for partnerships when really the need is cash.
In essence those partnerships amount to sharing successes while leaving the doors open to blame the other guy when actions don’t materialize.
That type of banter goes on between federal and provincial politicians regularly.
We believe it better to have each level of government skillfully handle issues under their jurisdiction. Otherwise, three sets of officials and three sets of bureaucrats will examine issues and merely complicate things.
While the appeal of partnerships is understood, it will not stand as a panacea for the interwoven nature of government today.
