"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Vengeance is mine ,saith The Lord.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Against The Law ???":

On August 24th at 4:46pm Anonymous said.... "She is surely guilty of various crimes and misdemeanors..."

OK... I replied. If you believe this to be true, call the cops. Stop pussy-footing around if you think she did something wrong. Regardless of how many were in attendance, COUNCIL APPROVED IT.

Stop with the civil suits, press criminal charges or stop saying that she is guilty of crimes and misdemeanors.


***************
Politics is a harsh taskmaster. It was true before the advent of social media. It is  more true today.
When the last Council was straining at the bit to adopt a Code of Conduct, after appointing an Integrity Commissioner, I cautioned   against.
They didn't hear. They had received  privileged legal advice that  a penalty clause inserted into legislation by the province provided a foolproof  method  of punishing a recalcitrant Councillor and enforcing Da Code. 
The  decision on charges against Mayor Ford of Toronto should engage all  GTA politicians.
The Mayor  is charged with voting  against a resolution requiring return of $3,800. to "lobbyists" who contributed to a fund to provide football equipment to a high school for students in need. .
Mayors in the GTA should  have a special interest. 
Golf tournaments  organised annually  raise funds in the Mayor's names, to be distributed to various charities.
The Mayor of Markham has a Foundation in his name. 
A Mayor in Halton Region exercises complete control of funds
raised in her name without disclosure.
In Aurora, proceeds are about  forty-five thousand dollars a year. 
Positive publicity results. Funds are disbursed with fanfare.
Recipients are extremely appreciative. Good causes are served.
I alone have  reservations.
Generally speaking, the funds  come from contractors doing business with the town, obviously grateful and wishing  to show  appreciation.
Nothing wrong with that, eh ?
Except how it might be perceived.
The term " lobbyist"  is not used in Aurora. Only in Toronto.
I am told the tournament  in Aurora is not organised in the Mayor's office. Town resources are not used. 
Still, it is The Mayor's Tournament. It  generates  funds.
It would be  hard to separate donations to the cause  from  influence of the office. 
My attention to fine detail is a definite irritant to some.
My impression is participants  are politicians, staff and contractors doing business with the town.
No doubt the Mayor generates  good relations with business and picks up   kudos from fund recipients.
None of it is secret. I am not telling  anything you wouldn't  know from paying  attention to town affairs. 
But here's the point; If the Mayor of Aurora can generate charitable funds  in an amount of $45,000 annually from people who do business with the town? ( we are pikers at the game)  Why can't the Mayor of Toronto  solicit a piddling amount of $3,800 to provide football equipment to  a high school for students in need, Why should his good intentions be viewed differently.
Toronto's Integrity Commissioner  recommended the donations be returned because  the Mayor's office staff  and stationary were  used to generate the funds. 
The Mayor's Office is a resource.
If Toronto's Integrity Commissioner's judgement is sound, every Mayor in the GTA should be shaking in their shoes for fear of being accused of dark villainy under  Codes of Conducts
 Clayton Ruby's legal argument in support of  Toronto's Code of Conduct should  interest all Ontario politicians who aspire to righteousness and virtue and proclaim  the same from town hall steps while organising big-money fund-raisers behind closed doors in  warrens and  back rooms.   
        


2 comments:

Anonymous said...


Canadian Press
P.M's Chief of Staff faces Conflict of Interest questions over Barrick Gold links.

Anonymous said...


It's too bad we don't have a wizard who could conjure up a mini-tornado with several controllable down spouts.

On a Saturday at the Farmers' Market it might be possible to locate and suck up its Executive, then hang around for a Board meeting of the Centre and do likewise with them.

These mainly mavens of mayhem would be transported many miles to the south and then dumped out into a slough.

And when one of them declaims, "This must be Kansas, Toto" that would be absolutely correct.

A good house cleaning is good for the heart and the soul.