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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 
- 15 - to this web-page at time of posting.


Mississauga News - July 30, 2010 - By Joe Chin - jchin@mississauga.net

'I did nothing wrong'

The man in black. Peter McCallion arrives at the Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. courthouse to begin his testimony at the Mississauga judicial inquiry.
He later told reporters he and his mother, Mayor Hazel McCallion,
are guilty of no wrongdoing in connection with a failed bid to build a hotel and convention centre on City Centre lands. Staff photo by Fred Loek

Two days of aggressive grilling couldn’t budge Peter McCallion from insisting he did nothing wrong in an ill-fated bid to bring an upscale hotel to Mississauga’s downtown core.

While he was in denial mode, he took time to stick up for his mother, Mayor Hazel McCallion, too.

“No, we did not (do anything wrong),” McCallion told reporters on Wednesday as he left the Burnhamthorpe Rd. courthouse, site of the Mississauga judicial inquiry.

The high-profile hearing is probing, among other issues, whether the mayor breached conflict-of-interest rules in her involvement in the land purchase deal.

Called back for a second day on the witness stand, the 57-year-old realtor continued to insist that he has little recollection of at least half-a-dozen meetings he and his mother held with businessman Leo Couprie.

In the beginning, the businessman was the sole shareholder in World Class Developments (WCD), the owner of the proposed project. Recruited by Peter McCallion, he invested $750,000 in deposit money to begin negotiations to buy land from the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS).  Meanwhile, McCallion said he was only in it to sell condo units down the road on a commission basis.

“I can’t remember what the meetings were about; they were in 2003,” McCallion told Clifford Lax, the City of Mississauga’s outside counsel.

Lax suggested the meetings were held to get the venture off the ground.  Several took place at the mayor’s Streetsville home.

“Do you still take the position they had nothing to do with (the deal)?”  Lax persisted at one point.

“Yes,” said McCallion.

Later, Lax cross-examined McCallion on a $450,000 mortgage he took out on his home in 2007.  He asked McCallion why it was placed with Couprie and not a third party, such as a lending institution.  Lax suggested it didn’t pass the smell test since Couprie was McCallion’s WCD partner.

“I could have, but I didn’t,” McCallion replied.

About a year later, McCallion sold the house to Couprie for $800,000;  he currently rents it from Couprie to live in.

Lax continued delving into the pair’s business relationship.  In particular, he asked McCallion why it was necessary for him to guarantee Couprie a 100 per cent return on his $750,000 investment, when Couprie was the sole WCD shareholder and McCallion, as he insisted, was merely an agent.

“It was to make (Couprie) comfortable,” McCallion replied.

In a bombshell ruling, Commission Justice Douglas Cunningham indicated he will not give much weight to a line of questioning of McCallion by Elizabeth McIntyre, the mayor’s lawyer.

In response to the latter’s questions, McCallion had repeatedly denied his mother knew much of his idea, back in 2003, to build the hotel/convention centre complex.

McIntyre got McCallion to acknowledge that his mother knew very little of the inner workings of WCD, including his own role.  He said he also kept his mother in the dark about the other principals.

“The bottom line is that you misled your mother as to your actual role in WCD,” McIntyre suggested to McCallion at the end of a blistering day of questioning.

“Misled, or I wasn’t aware of it at the time,” he replied.

Queried about the mayor’s witnessing of two agreements with Couprie in 2003, the younger McCallion said she was at the Toronto dinner simply to advise the pair about a hotel operator in Asia.

Commission counsel William McDowell interrupted the cross-examination – calling it “sweetheart questioning.”

He then asked Cunningham if he was going to lend weight to the testimony.

The judge tersely replied, “Not much.”

 


Comments by others - 15 - to this web-page at time of posting;


The Mississauga Muse

Aug 8, 2010 2:27 PM

Criminal Code of Canada. False Pretences 362. (1) Every one commits an offence who

"(a) by a false pretence, whether directly or through the medium of a contract obtained by a false pretence, obtains anything in respect of which the offence of theft may be committed or causes it to be delivered to another person; [and] (c) knowingly makes or causes to be made, directly or indirectly, a false statement in writing with intent that it should be relied on, with respect to the financial condition or means or ability to pay of himself or herself or any person or organization that he or she is interested in or that he or she acts for, for the purpose of procuring, in any form whatever, whether for his or her benefit or the benefit of that person or organization, (iii) the making of a loan, (vi) the making, accepting, discounting or endorsing of a bill of exchange, cheque, draft or promissory note; "

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Think About It

Aug 7, 2010 10:56 PM

No you're not pre-judgemental (prejudice) Steve like these few annonymous trolls with the Midas touch that turns everthing into slander

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Uatu

Aug 7, 2010 10:49 PM

@Stephen

There is no point explaining that you're not anti-Hazel or not anti-Mississauga. The hazelbots will ignore it and make the same accusation over and over. That's because you have dared criticize the Mayor. The Fiends of Hazel will not tolerate anything but blind obedient loyalty. Anything else is heresy, to be attacked, slandered, and if possible suppressed.

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Stephen Wahl

Aug 7, 2010 7:25 PM

Again; for the record

I am not anti Hazel, anti McCallion or anti Mississauga. Nor am I necessarily pro Parrish; although I do, on some topics, agree with Mrs. Parrish’s point of view; while on other subjects I am in complete disagreement with her. Same goes for the mayor; sometimes we agree and sometimes we don’t; and I would hope that we can continue to do so respectfully. The question, was my comment an appropriate defense for the anti-Hazel crowd? No it is not; and that is because I am not defending the anti-Hazel crowd; I am speaking out against the obviously intended racist slur, against persons of Eastern European origin (Polish to be specific), comment by J.P. Other rude and mean spirited, but not so overtly racist, comments about Carolyn Parrish, I just ignored.

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 3:25 PM

Exploratory question. "Woman who faked cancer arrested"

CBC "Woman who faked cancer arrested". [QUOTE] "A 23-year-old woman who admitted to faking cancer to encourage others to give her money has surrendered to police in Oakville, Ont. Halton regional police arrested Ashley Kirilow of Burlington, Ont., on Friday and charged her with three counts of fraud under $5,000." [ENDQUOTE]. And my question is this. Signing affidavits as Authorized Signing Officer and knowing you aren't authorized... and borrowing $50,000 KNOWING you haven't the ability to pay that back if you were called up to, isn't that Fraud?

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 3:18 PM

the "anti-Hazel" crowd?

Can't speak for the others but I'm anti-MYTHissauga!

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ConcernedResident

Aug 7, 2010 2:15 PM

Stephen Wahl What are you thinking?

Stephen Wahl, a regular commenter here, responds to this comment "Time for the two old LIBERAL hags to retire.Parrish should be deported back to POLAND and Hazel to a nice seniors residence" with this reply "@ J.P. 08:00 am Aug 7. I would like to go record as reporting your comment as racist. I would also like to go record that I believe racists are ignorant pig f***ing a**holes. Other commentators may feel free to report my comment as obscene and vulgar; I will understand; this is after all a family newspaper." (I have edited his actual comment with asterisks. The question I have to ask is this an appropriate defence for the anti-Hazel crowd? Is this how low they have stooped?

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 7, 2010 11:27 AM

Well it was inevitable. Ted Woloshyn joins Peter McCallion and agrees "nothing wrong"...

Guess like many other Friends/Fiends of Hazel, Woloshyn prefers the vewy vewy qwiet MYTHissauga corruption. Here you go, http://tinyurl.com/3y4mne7 Most repugnant comment? "At a cost of some $6 or $7 million, if at the end of this repugnant voyage nothing concrete is resolved the city of Mississauga’s reputation will have been tarnished by those seeking political gain." See Peter McCallion echoed here? Wasn't the McCallion's and their trustee of their trust fund, Dave O'Brien who tarnished Mississauga. It's the Seven who voted to inform the public of what was REALLY going on! My guess? Woloshyn "KNOWS"... Oh he *knows*! And zero mention of what the Inquiry revealed. (Classic Differential Reporting of MYTHissauga!)

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 6, 2010 7:20 PM

Globe and Mail, "Hazel's son faces a lawsuit involving the Stavro family, a free Cadillac and nude photos"

From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published on Friday, Aug. 06, 2010 6:10PM "Peter McCallion is an enigma wrapped in a riddle tucked into a black felt hat. A little-written-about figure, much less a household name, this man in cowboy black is the central figure in an inquiry that has exposed the backroom process behind a major Mississauga land deal. It is also visiting harm on the political legacy of his mother Hazel, one of Canada’s most prominent and longest-serving mayors, who pushed hard for the deal and intervened in the affairs of her son’s company. During recent hearings, two competing profiles have emerged of the 57-year-old real-estate agent. On the stand, Mr. McCallion comes across as shell-shocked, a passive participant who can’t recall dozens of conversations and didn’t understand the meaning of crucial legal documents he was privy to. No suprise, a MUST-READ http://tinyurl.com/2vu9qpf

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Uatu

Aug 5, 2010 8:19 PM

Maybe he missed the memo

Peter McCallion needs to pay better attention to the talking points. He's not supposed to say he did nothing "wrong", he is supposed to say he did nothing "illegal".

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ComeOn

Aug 5, 2010 7:23 PM

Peter McCallion faithful to the McCallion Trust Fund

NO he did nothing wrong -- on the planet La La. OK Peter if you say so nows I guess we cun mosey ona home. Giddy up pretend horse!

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 2, 2010 10:50 AM

Peter McCallion Mississauga Judicial Inquiry July 27, 2010 now on YouTube

Peter McCallion's entire testimony at the July 27, 2010 Mississauga Judicial Inquiry. Total 18 videos: http://tinyurl.com/2w54lhp

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The Mississauga Muse

Aug 2, 2010 10:27 AM

Traditional Media commentary on Peter McCallion/Mayor (Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun,

Toronto Star's Royson James "Ending the state of denial": http://tinyurl.com/2ab62lu [and] Toronto Sun's Michele Mandel "Hazel McCallion's son keeps it under his hat" http://tinyurl.com/29zlubf [and] Wed Jul 28 2010 and National Post's Megan O'Toole: Mississauga’s invulnerable matriarch Hazel McCallion may finally be wounded http://tinyurl.com/2u3sg5m July 31, 2010 [and] Toronto Star's Chris Hume: "Hogtied in Hazel McCallion Country" http://tinyurl.com/2a6v85c Aug 01 2010 [Still scouring the Net for Traditional Media commentary supporting Peter McCallion and Hazel McCallion.]

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 31, 2010 1:56 PM

Mississauga Judicial Inquiry July 27/28 TRANSCRIPTS [Peter McCallion Days 1 and 2] now online

Mississauga Judicial Inquiry Transcript – July 27, 2010 (Peter McCallion Day 1 testimony) http://tinyurl.com/2eypsoc and July 28, 2010 (Peter McCallion Day 2 testimony) http://tinyurl.com/2a3l9n6 [noticed the transcripts were not appearing on GOOGLE for easy access. Now they are! Will post all others as time permits.]

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Uatu

Jul 31, 2010 12:32 PM

@Missy2

Re moral bankcruptcy: See how ConcernedResident pretends there is nothing wrong with the Mayor attending meetings (without knowledge of Council) at which both her son and the City have financial interests? That's moral corruption. He sees nothing wrong there. If you take the names out of the picture and present the FACTS (not in dispute) to a reasonable person, do you think they'd say there was no scandal there? Let me put it this way: Do you think the hazelbots here would say Carolyn Parrish had done nothing wrong if she were the one who did what the Mayor has done?

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 31, 2010 11:51 AM

NATIONAL POST [Twitter] "Mississauga’s invulnerable matriarch Hazel McCallion may finally be wounded"

[BEGIN] There is no question Peter McCallion is his mother’s son. Hazel McCallion, who has reigned supreme in Mississauga for more than three decades, has deeper lines on her visage, to be sure. But they share the same taut mouth, the same defiantly arched brow. And Mr. McCallion, 57, is quick to defend his 89-year-old mother, even as their intertwined reputations hurtle closer to public disgrace in a judicial inquiry that, layer by layer, is untangling the McCallions’ troubling business history... [Mayor's Lawyer] Ms. McIntyre told the National Post. “At the end of the day I question whether it makes a difference.” Even if this theory bears out, questions of conflict remain prominent, experts say. For as a real estate agent, Mr. McCallion still stood to gain $10-million in condo commissions, while his mother worked fervently to push the deal forward. [END] Rest at: http://tinyurl.com/34v42xu

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 31, 2010 9:47 AM

@ ComeOn, re: I research Mississauga municipal governance. Just like Tom Urbaniak --only he's the Pro.

Those "these lame revisionists seeking the glory days" as you call them are the Mayor's number one supporters, right? They factor HUGE in the history of MYTHissauga. The videos that I'm currently reviewing aren't what the Seven Councillors said, for example. It's the other "Fantastic Four". A reminder, the two Councillors I've researched the most are Pat Saito and Katie Mahoney. Not because they're "Friends of Hazel" --but because they co-chaired/lead the Mississauga Crime Prevention Association/Safe City Mississauga and co-chair the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Network. That the Judicial Inquiry came along just offers a new "parallel" window into those two. Part of MISSISSAUGA INC. And I pay attention to ALL of what bobs to the top from MISSISSAUGA INC. Example. They've called my writings "drivel" since I first logged on here. They just called Royson James' "Ending the state of denial" drivel. I'M DELIGHTED ABOUT THAT!

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ComeOn

Jul 31, 2010 1:00 AM

Hazel McCallion Scandal Finally Sinking in with Friends of Hazel Crowd (3 people left)

Muse do not listen to these lame revisionists seeking the glory days. Deep down they must feel very betrayed by a Mayor who according to the evidence has been abusing her office for years. This scandal strarted years ago and is still not completely resvolved.

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 30, 2010 8:07 PM

Dedicated to Mantis Royson James "Step one: End the denials."

"To the army of Hazel McCallion apologists — many itching to re-elect her Oct. 25 — testimony out of the Mississauga judicial inquiry must be painful. At best, Peter McCallion used his mom, the good graces of her Streetsville home and the tax-supported resources of the mayor’s office to feather his own nest." "At worst, he was aided and abetted by the powerful mayor mom who seems to have her hand in every deal, a finger in every transaction, and bared knuckles at the ready to drive hesitant developers to the altar." "Whatever you believe, the public process is badly broken in Mississauga." "'I didn’t do anything wrong. There is no conflict of interest here.' Maybe McCallion believes this, after almost a half century in the public eye — a peculiar “see no evil” focus that exists in Mississauga." " Such behaviour is clearly forbidden in most municipalities. We hope."

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 30, 2010 7:52 PM

Globe and Mail: Mayor McCallion attended nearly 20 meetings with her son, inquiry hears

"At one dinner arranged by Mr. McCallion in August, 2005, the mayor met with Tony DeCicco, who would later become WCD’s chief shareholder, to discuss an in-camera item that had come up at a municipal conference. The item – ostensibly a piece of private information – related to the same pension fund that owned the land WCD was trying to buy for the development. Taking the stand for the second day in a row, Mr. McCallion denied that the land was the topic of discussion that night. Under cross-examination, he said it was likely that the development was discussed at later meetings with his mother and his partners in WCD, but could not remember them. 'So far, I’ve asked you about every meeting and every phone call, and you’ve had no recollection of any of them,' said City of Mississauga lawyer Clifford Lax. 'These were over two years ago,' Mr. McCallion said."

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 30, 2010 7:51 PM

@ Missy2 --my response to Denial. Royson James to MYTHissauga (the highlights) "Step one: End the denials."

"To the army of Hazel McCallion apologists — many itching to re-elect her Oct. 25 — testimony out of the Mississauga judicial inquiry must be painful. At best, Peter McCallion used his mom, the good graces of her Streetsville home and the tax-supported resources of the mayor’s office to feather his own nest." "At worst, he was aided and abetted by the powerful mayor mom who seems to have her hand in every deal, a finger in every transaction, and bared knuckles at the ready to drive hesitant developers to the altar." "Whatever you believe, the public process is badly broken in Mississauga." "'I didn’t do anything wrong. There is no conflict of interest here.' Maybe McCallion believes this, after almost a half century in the public eye — a peculiar “see no evil” focus that exists in Mississauga." " Such behaviour is clearly forbidden in most municipalities. We hope."

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Missy2

Jul 30, 2010 7:24 PM

@ Muse

While I understand your frustration, the problem here is the same that we have seen throughout this whole inquiry: no smoking gun. While we can sit here and speculate that he says he doesn't remember because he is hiding something, unless someone comes forward and says they were there and yes "this and that happened", no wrong doing will be or can be found. The more time that passes, the more I think this will end with some softball recommendations, each side on this issue will spin the result in their favour, the Mayor will will again in November and nothing else will change. All for the lump sum of $5MM. Does anyone feel like we're getting our money's worth?

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The Mississauga Muse

Jul 30, 2010 9:49 AM

To Peter "I did nothing wrong" McCallion! YO! DUDE! You don't recall, you don't remember, remember?!

How can you claim you did nothing wrong when time after time after TIME your response to the question of what happened during all those breakfast/lunch *and* dinner meeting with your business partners and Mayor McCallion was "I don't remember" "I don't recall"? IF YOU DON'T FRIKKIN' *REMEMBER* how can you credibly claim you did nothing wrong?!

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