Tit For Tat

After municipal elections in 2010, a successful candidate in Toronto was  sued by a defeated candidate for defamation.

A  taped telephone message was the evidence.

The Alderman, Heap son of Dan ,I think  was obliged to settle with  a payment of  $10,000.  

His  quote in the press was ---- he had no option----to do otherwise would have bankrupt him.

A resolution  was put forward in a Council meeting  to  reimburse the alderman for his legal expenses.

The City's legal department  advised Council had no authority to do any such thing.

The resolution passed despite legal advice to the contrary.

The payment was put on hold.

Alderman Doug Holyday, with personal resources , retained legal counsel and took the issue  before a judge.

The resolution was indeed determined to be illegal. Council had no legal authority to use public resources for the purpose.

Legal  costs  of an alderman  who defamed a rival candidate  were not paid.

The story is based  on  recollection.

No doubt proficient research could verify the facts.

Doug Holyday was  Deputy-Mayor of Toronto and recently  elected  in a by election to fill a vacancy in the Provincial Assembly.

He also served as Mayor of the Borough of Etobicoke  for a number of years .

He and Councillor Rob Ford had complaints filed against them to Toronto's Integrity Commissioner
They had not  claimed against the $75,000 expense allowance for Toronto Councillors.

The complaint was filed by a Councillor who claimed the lot.

The complaint was ------by not filing a claim ---Holyday and  Ford made Councillors who did----look bad.

The Integrity Commissioner agreed. She  ruled they should claim.

They were ordered to do so.

Politics are  generally volatile.

Toronto is special