"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 7 November 2013

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












6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is working out very well in this family to leave the entire subject alone. If we lived in TO, it would be more difficult.

Anonymous said...

Do you really want this mess coming at you, Evelyn ?
Even the cartoons are incredible.

Anonymous said...

Olivia Chow is thinking Very hard

Anonymous said...


Canadian Press

" Toronto Star explains decision to pay $5000 for video of Ford....."

Anonymous said...

"No doubt proficient research could verify the facts."

Do you lack said proficiency?

Anonymous said...

19:43
"Olivia Chow is thinking Very hard"

God I hope not. Just because she was married to Layton does not mean that she is qualified. She did not make a significant impact as a councillor nor MP.