Milton blog

Milton’s making a list … The Santa Claus parade was taking too long, so organizers barred politicians from marching.

The good townsfolk of Milton may have bitten off more than they can chew when it comes to tomorrow’s Santa Claus parade.

Town organizers decided this year to eliminate three levels of politicians from the beloved event which routinely draws as many as 20,000 people to the streets of Milton.

“The committee decided that for this year’s parade the only politician we’d have would be Mayor Gordon Krantz from Milton,” explained Mike Ricker, secretary treasurer of the parade committee which is made up of volunteers.

The reason wasn’t political, Ricker insists, but rather one of expediency. The parade was simply taking too long so the committee decided to cut it down, eliminating some of the politicians as well as limiting the number of entries to 70.

Little did the organizers know that their decision would prompt the ire of their federal Liberal MP, Garth Turner, who is threatening to disobey the committee and walk in the parade anyway.

“His idea is he’s the federal MP for this area and he’s going to be in the parade,” said Ricker. “I understand he plans to walk with his dog in the parade.”

Turner was too busy to comment yesterday about being chopped from the parade and of his plans to crash it anyway. His staff said he was in back-to-back meetings all day.

But Milton residents remain steadfast in their decision and are prepared for any contingency should Turner show up, with or without his dog.

“We have a plan, but I would rather not say what we’ve prepared,” Ricker said.

Still the whole fracas has left Ricker scratching his head. “We were looking at the parade in general and asking what do people come out to see – the parade, the floats, the band and Santa Claus.”

It was clear to them residents certainly weren’t coming to see the politicians, said Ricker.

The only reason Milton’s mayor is still in the parade is because the town gave organizers $10,000 to cover some safety concerns and because the parade uses the town’s facilities and streets.

And while provincial MPP Ted Chudleigh is disappointed he won’t be participating in tomorrow’s parade, he understands the organizers’ motives.

“I have been in the parade for 12 or 13 years,” said Chudleigh. “It’s a great time to walk down Main St. and wave and say Merry Christmas and it’s fun. But it’s their parade.”

His sentiments are shared by Gary Carr, Halton Region chair.

“I’m in quite a few parades,” said Carr. “I enjoy it. It kicks off the Christmas season. I like to support them when I can but I also respect the fact it’s their decision. In this case they decided they didn’t want anyone in and I respect their decision. I won’t be doing what Garth Turner is doing.”

Ricker and his organizing committee hope Turner won’t become the Grinch that stole Milton’s Christmas and turn the Santa Claus parade into a media circus. “We’re hoping everything will be fine and we’re going to do our best. … We want the parade to come off and do the best job we can for the kids – both big and little – in Milton.”

By Debra Black of the Toronto Star