Odds and Sods

The Supreme  Court has dismissed the request to appeal  the Rob Ford decision . Not surprising.

The media reported the decision had been appealed.  Not right. What he Supreme ourtdeals with is an
application to appeal. It can only be granted if there was an error in law in the decision being appealed.

So now  the record is intact. No municipal official  vharged with a conflict of interest  has had the penalty of being expelled from office imposed and prohibited from being a candidate  for seven years

Clayton Ruby, who made the application, is said to have provided services pro bono.

Mayor Hazel McCallion  at the press coference following her acquital, apparently stated  her legal costs were $500,000 and  she  would  be looking  to have them covered.

In Aurora , the citizen who undertook to  implement the Provincial  Conflict of Interest Act, at his own  expense was   required to pay the defendant's costs  as well  Which costs  were  indemnified by the Town's insurance.

The Town's premiums increased  this year  by more than $31,000. in consideration of  legal  costs expended . 

One can easily  conceive, when costs expended by an  insurance company have exceeded  premiums paid by the clien, increased premiums must be  the result and bourne by taxpayers. 

A blending of the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct  has been  presented to Council  as directed .
It has been deferred. 

It's an interesting paradox. At a time of proliferation of unenforceable  Provincial Acts and Municipal  Bylaws, there has never been such profligate spending  on legal costs with so little to show for it. 

At he Provincial level we  are looking at an  excess of a billion dollars squandered for purely political  purpose. 

At the Federal level we have  Duffy and Wallin.  Both were high profile  personalities with  claim  to fame before appointment to the  Senate. 

More  than a hint  of service was apparently expected  were not in accord with the duies of the Senate. 

Senators normally disappear into the Senate.  But  not  those two. 

We have the inexplicable "  personal gift" of $90.000.  from the P.M.O.'s Chief of Staff. and the edited 
Committee Report on Duffy. 

Wallin, on the other hand, got thrown under the bus. She didn't have quite the heft of Duffy. 

But Wallin is no slouch. I don't think she can take kindly to the role of  sacrificial  lamb. 

Despite the posturing of the Prime Minister and his Courtiers and  a leaked  jovial video, I think Pamela is the one to watch. 

I think she's about ready to blow. But the timing must be right or the media won't notice. 

Just about every day I start a  post with intent of  examining  the ridculous wording of a Code of Ehics for  politicians  and every day I get diverted, 

It's the times we live in.