"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

Thursday 20 June 2013

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. 



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought that the blended codes had been accepted by Council with the usual whining from that trio about lack of weaponry. Didn't know it was just deferred. Thanks for the info.

Anonymous said...

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

Presumably, that includes the costs incurred thus far associated with *your* lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

1:52 PM
Could you perhaps get a bit of proportion into your thinking? Otherwise you just chase yourself around in circles.

Anonymous said...

WOW.... When this lawsuit crap came out, I suggested that legal actions by the Town and against the Town would force the Town's insurance premiums to go up.

My statements were poopooed by the know it alls on OTaIB. Well, I would just like to say.....

TOLD YOU SO!

Maybe some people that are currently in the midst of legal battles can see that their war on wasting tax dollars is hypocritical and they will stop the instanity.

Anonymous said...

2:31 PM
I actually agree with you at least partially. It is amazing how an offer of settlement can bring people to the table. However, unless you are privy to information that I lack, none has been forthcoming despite the length of the action & an appearance when it would usually have been presented. As long as the town continues to pony up, there is no impetus to settle.
[ I quite understand if you decline to use this, Councillor Buck. It is speculation only. }

Anonymous said...

Earlier this week, someone took a swing at Justin Trudeau for accepting paid speaking engagements. Since then some interesting information has been pulled together, mostly by the CBC.
a) All his events were cleared before hand by the proper authorities
b} As of Tuesday, 10 of the 17 groups that paid Trudeau to speak at events have said that they are not interested in receiving any refunds.
c} Only Grace, the original complainant, through the PMO, wants a refund
Seems he did a good job & they felt he was worth the money which drew audiences to events that were NOT all linked to charities.

Anonymous said...


Government "of the people, by the people, for the people."

Usually "the people" come from near the centre of the intelligence spectrum, neither overly bright nor dumb.

But today "the people" seem to have dumbed down to an appallingly low level, and we really can't afford this.

What did we "the people" do to deserve this?

Anonymous said...

@421

The only thing Justin Trudeau cleared with the Ethics Commissioner was the okay to continue his other "profession" Public Speaking. He has not gone to the Ethics Commissioner each time to clear his speaking engagement for optics.Especially those paid speeches to unions which are not allowed to contribute funds DIRECTLY to political parties.The CBC was wrong to imply he did get clearance for each engagement.But then again the CBC epitomizes everything wrong with our media.

Anonymous said...

5:17 AM
The reason for citing sources is so that people like you with iron-clad prejudices can indulge them. Why you would select the CBC as an example of all that is wrong with current media escapes me entirely. There are plenty of other available outlets to share that honour.

Anonymous said...

The Board of the Grace Foundation have distanced themselves from the individual who asked for a rebate from Justin Trudeau. Their reputation is in tatters.

Anonymous said...

"But then again the CBC epitomizes everything wrong with our media."

Yeah, Thank God for Sun News, eh?!

Anonymous said...

@ 517
Curious how you can say I have iron clad prejudices
Actually I believe and it is borne out in Nova Scotia
dishonesty and and malfeasance crosses all political
parties something the media such as the CBC would never report
Also I do not believe Justin walks on water
If all this is considered prejudice then I am guilty

Anonymous said...

I think you are right, Evelyn. Wallin will likely blow. I have no problem with the Senate destroying itself from within.