"Politics aside, he served seven years as premier"

What?  That makes no sense.

But neither does this:

The rumour mill is working overtime with unconfirmed word that a $25 million library being built at Nipissing University and neighbouring Canadore College in North Bay will be named after (Mike) Harris...

Mikey, leader of the Common Sense Revolution in Ontario, one time boss to the Harris quintuplets (Flaherty, Clement, Baird, Van Loan, Giorno), the man who gutted the education system in the province and cut so far back on health care that waiting times grew to life threatening levels might have a library named after him?

Naming anything even remotely linked to education after Mike Harris is like naming and abortion clinic after Ken Epp.

This isn’t just any library, but one linked to a college and a University - both known for encouraging aboriginal enrollment.

Oh, right.  Mikey loves them thar native folks:

"I want the fucking Indians out of the park" - Mike Harris, September 7, 1995

Well, the fucking Indians left the park, alright, but not until an unarmed one (Dudley George ) was gunned down by the OPP.  While Harris was eventually cleared of being directly responsible for the death, the inquiry found that his approach certainly eliminated the chances of a more peaceful outcome.

"From a First Nation perspective, it would be more appropriate to name a rifle range after Mike Harris than a library," Patrick Madahbee, Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, fumed in a statement released Wednesday.

It probably wasn’t the fucking Indians who suggested naming the library after Harris, then.

Why Mikey, then?  Surely his buddies can explain why the man who gutted the education system in Ontario should be honoured by having a library named after him.

"Politics aside, he served seven years as premier" North Bay city councillor Chris Mayne said in an interview. Two years ago, Mayne helped organize a Rotary Club dinner honouring Harris, who requested the $20,000 proceeds go to the library fund. "It probably was the most significant recognition of Mike so far," he added. (the current provincial Liberal government has donated a $19 million to the cause).

So...we are to forget the politics, but acknowledge the political service without examining what impact that service had on education or on the people who will make use of the library.

Poor Mike.  Can’t let the old bastard die with no more recognition than a Rotary Club dinner, can we?