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Opening comments:  More at the end.
 

To the main Judicial Inquiry page - to the Hazel McCallion page.

Comments by others to this web-page 
- 22 - to this web-page at time of posting.


Mississauga News - Aug. 5, 2010 - By Joe Chin - jchin@mississauga.net

City to sue mayor’s son?

Peter McCallion. Peter McCallion testifies at the judicial inquiry last month. File photo

The City of Mississauga might go after Peter McCallion for as much as $150,000 if it’s found the mayor’s son misrepresented himself when he cried broke and was granted taxpayers’ money to cover his legal fees at the judicial inquiry.

Evidence presented last week at the hearing suggested McCallion was a principal of World Class Developments (WCD) and, therefore, is entitled to a share of a $4-million settlement paid by the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) after their land deal collapsed. The compensation could net McCallion hundreds of thousands of dollars.

City solicitor Mary Ellen Bench told Council yesterday that it’s possible to take McCallion to court. She also noted Commissioner Douglas Cunningham, who's overseeing the inquiry, cannot order McCallion to repay the money.

“The purpose of the inquiry will be for the commissioner to make findings as to fact. But we have to remember it’s not a court of law, so he will not have the power, sitting in that forum, to require repayment, or anything of that nature,” Bench noted.

“I think at the end of this process, when we do have his recommendations, it is appropriate for us to look at them and determine what action the City needs to take.”

That could include taking McCallion to civil court.

Outside the Burnhamthorpe Rd. courtroom last week, McCallion told reporters he hasn’t received any settlement money. Commission counsel William McDowell also said he still believes the 57-year-old realtor requires funding.

So far, McCallion’s lawyers have billed the City $58,000. But that doesn’t include bills for last month, when he took the witness stand for two days. The City has placed a $150,000 cap on his legal expenses.

Meanwhile, a smidgen of sympathy for McCallion is coming from an unlikely source.

Ward 6 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, a vocal critic of his mother, says she believes he has just found out that he owns 16 per cent of WCD.
“I think we should just send him a letter saying, 'Would you like to voluntarily now take yourself off the pauper’s list and send us back the money?'” she told Council.
Parrish and other councillors, however, were not so easy on Mayor Hazel McCallion when they debated a request to increase her lawyers’ limit to $400,000. Although the request was unanimously ratified, councillors did so reluctantly.

“We have no choice but to accept it, but the mayor will have to explain it to the taxpayers,” said Parrish.

Ward 7 Councillor Nando Iannicca maintains Council cannot now pull the plug on the inquiry.

“When I supported the inquiry I said to myself I’m not asking for a fixed amount of justice, we’re asking for justice and a proper inquiry,” he said. “It costs what it costs to get to the truth.”

Despite the ballooning costs, Bench, who's riding herd on the expenses, is cautiously optimistic they will not exceed $5 million, which is twice the amount originally approved by Council.

“We only have two more weeks scheduled. If that remains the case, then yes, I think that would be possible,” she said.

This phase of the inquiry is probing conflict-of-interest allegations against the mayor and the role her son played in a $14.4-million failed bid by WCD to purchase a 3.5-hectare parcel of land owned by OMERS to build a hotel/convention centre in City Centre.

The inquiry reconvenes next Monday.
 


Comments by others - 22 - to this web-page at time of posting;


The Mississauga Muse

Aug 9, 2010 6:20 PM

@ ComeOn. I am confident that Justice Cunningham will in no way take how Peter McCallion dresses into consideration

It's bad enough that happens to people in real life...

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ComeOn

Aug 9, 2010 5:45 PM

Sanity Discussion Time

On a serious note, who wears a black outfit and black stetson (I am guessing her fact checkers) to an Inquiry where you want to be taken seriously. Some one has been watching one too many old cowboy films. Do not get me wrong I enjoy those flicks too but dressing like Doc Holliday is a little like coming to work as a clown. Sure people hear what you say and interact with you but they just might be thinking -- lunatic.

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 11:48 AM

@ Think About It. Great article on Peel Social Housing you aimed us at! Thanks.

Might I suggest though that before reading yours, Think About It, that people first read Tom Urbaniak's paper on Mississauga, "]Rhetoric and Restraint: Municipal-Federal Relations in Canada's Largest Leading Edge City" at: www.ppm-ppm.ca/SOTFS/Urbaniak1.pdf Bottomline, Urbaniak says the politicians talk The Talk --urgent noises re: caring affordable housing/poverty, yet examine their POLICIES/ACTIONS and there's quite the different story! Gotta add, I suspect that Brampton needs a sanitizing flush that only an inquiry can provide. Torstar: "'Brampton is far ahead in growth management,' Fennell said. 'We're not going to pay you to put in a basement apartment. We'll fine you $25,000 if you put one in.' Cheap below-ground accommodations may not fit Fennell's vision of Brampton – nor the vision set for the rest of Peel, where stiff zoning bylaws have effectively prohibited creating any new rental units in single-family homes since 1996." Like MYTHissauga --HYPOCRITES.

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Think About It

Aug 7, 2010 11:30 AM

A big mystery now is Peter wont eligable for social supports in Peel whilst mother McCallion placed a ban on her basement apartment during downloading

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/286253

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 8:05 AM

The requested video had to be deleted and reposted

YouTube didn't process a thumbnail and no idea why. So the video, "Carolyn Parrish about Peter McCallion. 'I believed him with my whole heart...'" was reposted and now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGPw_jR_uQQ

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 7:41 AM

@ Spudder MYTHissauga MYTHsterious land deals

So how long do you think they've been going on? We read about them --and then a terse "the amount of the settlement" was not disclosed. And of course it isn't just MYTHissauga. It's like this incestuous glom of unaccountable municipalities with AMO and OMERS at the top. I know there's also CFM but I don't think they've as much effect on us as the Beauts of AMO. And everyone at AMO is part of OMERS... And come each year's budget first thing considered and non-negotiable is employee salaries/benefits. What was it? 59% of MYTHissauga's annual budget right there?

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 7:30 AM

@ Spudder, OMERS, I've become fascinated by it

Going back to the article, "OMERS denies inflating land deal" OMERS explained that with this. Quote: 'The facts are otherwise. The agreement of purchase and sale for the Sheridan deal was signed with the City on July 20, 2009, whereas the WCD settlement occurred in September 2009, almost two months later,' Pierce said. 'It is my understanding that representatives of the City, at least at the staff level, were and are aware of this chronology.'" This is insulting. Suggesting that a two-month difference in signing matters. It's only the timing of negotiations that matters. But mostly now that I know that whenever there's land issues involving OMERS, a municipality's Planning Department staff is dealing with their own pension plan and will do their best to grease their own skids vs a competitor. A kind of perpetual conflict of interest.

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The Spudder

Aug 7, 2010 12:11 AM

CR

I agree, OMERS did not raise their rates to get the $4 Million back. The rate increase has nothing to do with recouping their money. OMERS already recouped that money by selling the Sheridan lands for more than what it was worth to the City. Remeber that it is only about $2.5 Million they need to recoup, the other $1.5 Million was refundable deposits.

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ComeOn

Aug 6, 2010 5:08 PM

Hazel McCallion Scandal is Hazel's Fault

Why $400,000 or $500000 to tell the truth? For years she tells kids to do her homework and we hear from her -- I did not read that document or that contract with MY NAME SIGNED ON IT!! I do not remember, I went to two meetings (turns out many many more) --BS. We deserve better.

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 3:17 PM

@ Uatu, okay done. Carolyn Parrish's "because I believed him with my whole heart that he just found out he owns 16% of World Class Developments" comment

Note, I worked Parrish's comments from the very beginning when Councillor Corbasson called her til the end of her comment. Always to make sure I'm not viably accused of pulling something out of context. As you know tone of voice is quite subjective. So I'd be interested if you interpreted as I did. That Parrish wasn't buying the old "Gosh, I never realized I owned part of World Class Developments" for even one micro-second. Here you go. YouTubed. "Carolyn Parrish about Peter McCallion. 'I believed him with my whole heart...'" at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIlW0iMhvg0

ConcernedResident

Aug 6, 2010 3:07 PM

@Muse 1:39Pm

How can you possibly relate the two? Even in a fictional world do these two stories connect. Pink, by Victorias Secret needed the space Roots was in, plus the space behind Roots that the drop-in centre occupied. As I understamd, the drop-in centre paid little to no rent. Oxford had the opportunity to rent useable space. The free ride was over at Square One. Now, how does this relate? They are probabl getting a good buck for that space. Isn't that their right as a business?

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Uatu

Aug 6, 2010 2:43 PM

@Muse

Just a clip of that statement to be linked from here is all I had in mind. The reason: this article is misleading in that it fails to indicate the remark was anything but sincere.

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 2:24 PM

@ Uatu, do I have video of Parrish's tongue-in-cheek "with all my heart" comment?

Yeah, but wasn't planning on posting it --although I suppose I could. If I did I would take advantage of YouTube's 15 minute extensions and get as much exchange between Parrish and City Solicitor Mary Ellen Bench. Bench did a terrific job answering Parrish and informing Council about the expenses. Zero doubt that Parrish already knew the answers to some of the questions she raised first, to inform viewers and second to get Ms. Bench's replies into what's left of the minutes that the City has cut back on.

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Uatu

Aug 6, 2010 2:19 PM

@Muse

Thanks for that information about Parrish. I suspected right away that her remark must have been sarcastic, but I couldn't tell from this article. Do you have video to post?

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 1:57 PM

@ MissyNews. HAHAHAHAHA. Love it!

MissyNews writes, "Ward 6 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, a vocal critic of his mother, says she believes he has just found out that he owns 16 per cent of WCD." Actually Parrish said (transcript) "because I believed him with my whole heart that he just found out he owns 16% of World Class Developments". When you read Parrish's words on a screen (or newspaper) you don't hear the irony in Parrish's voice (or see the tender gesture she made to her heart). But if you watch the video you'll interpret her comment, " "because I believed him with my whole heart that he just found out he owns 16% of World Class Developments" as the precise opposite.

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 1:39 PM

OH! And another way that OMERS gets their $4 million back...

Check out the Dec 21, 2009 Mississauga News commentary, "No ‘eviction’" about the eviction of the youth drop-in centre at Square One. Especially this sentence, "In May 2009, Oxford Properties, owner of Square One, gave notice that Square One would need the Youth Centre’s space for retail use by Dec. 1, 2009." Oxford Properties manages real estate assets on behalf of OMERS. Wonder how much money OMERS is getting for the space that the youth drop-in centre had been for 13 years and are now evicted... [cut-and-paste Inquiry] -- "the Mayor will testify that she attended at a meeting with Mr. Kitt and Mr. DeCicco on December 15th of 2008, and at that time was convinced that WCD could not come through with an appropriate hotel, and therefore, the deal had to be terminated." December 15, 2008 deal dies. May 2009 OMERS ends youth drop-in centre. Kids out by December 1, 2009. NEAT!

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ConcernedResident

Aug 6, 2010 10:52 AM

Nice Try Muse

Trying to link an OMERS rate increase to the WCD settlement is pure conjecture on your part, and shoddy journalism from someone who purports to do research. This link http://www.omers.com/Employers/Contributions/OMERS_contribution_rates__1963_-_present.htm shows that rates are actually LESS than they were in 2006-7-8. They also show a modest increase for 2010 over 2009. ALL municipal employees pay this, not just Mississauga's. Your comment makes it sound like ONLY Mississauga employees are paying an increase.

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 10:02 AM

@ the Mysterious MYTHissauga $4 million and the City not on the hook for it

Stephen you wrote, "The citizens got punk’d. Twice." Actually I submit, THREE times. At Wednesday's Council meeting, Hazel McCallion revealed that OMERS rates were going up. City employees "pay" those rates for their benefits/pensions. Of course City employees don't really pay for these benefits. The taxpayers do through the City's Budget. So that $4 million? Please play Devil's Advocate and convince me that isn't how OMERS is getting the bucks back for the World Class Developments settlement. Through hiking rates that the taxpayer must pay. :-)

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Stephen Wahl

Aug 6, 2010 9:44 AM

Sheridan College was knowingly being used as a pawn

Sheridan College was knowingly being used as a pawn in the City Centre OMERS land deal and the Britannia Farm/Peel District School Board/Osmington deal. Search the Mississauga News articles for BRITANNIA FARM; then cross reference with Sheridan College. Over the time span in question; the City of Mississauga, with the help of various Provincial Ministers, were trying to entice Sheridan College to the City Centre.; while the PDSB, along with the help of other Provincial Ministers were trying to entice Sheridan College to the Britannia Farm. If I were permitted to publish the names of the players involved; you would see that many persons were playing multiple roles for different organizations at the same time. This created a situation where some players could not loose; and other players could not possibly win. The citizens got punk’d. Twice.

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ComeOn

Aug 5, 2010 2:34 PM

Hazel McCallion Scandal Shows City Was Duped

City was duped into buying the land to give Peter McCallion his $4 million dollar settlement. The City was duped into paying $14.4 million for the land -- the price it was worth at the height of the boom economy so there was no way it was worth that price in 2009. Add to the scandal our being ripped off on the development fees by the McCallions to the tune of $53 million and an ugly picture is forming. Yes this is tangled web they have weaved but that is just is --THEY WEAVED IT!!! Now if we stop paying their legal fees they will cry foul so we are stuck until the decision comes down. Watch for the Mayor to declare victory again as she did when she was convicted before. Let the facts speak not "I cannot remember what we talked about but I know it was not about my company that I did not know I owned.... So much BS.

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Big E.

Aug 5, 2010 2:08 PM

The Secret of Becoming Rich

The Secret of Becoming Rich is by having other people pay for your problems.

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The Spudder

Aug 5, 2010 1:52 PM

Legal Fees

Would it not be a slap in the face to the taxpayers of Mississauga if the City over paid for the Sheridan Lands and had to cover the legal fees of the perpetrators. If in fact the inquiry shows that the City over paid for the lands then we should go after both McCallion's for their legal fees. I'm just saying.

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