THE  DEMOCRATIC  REPORTER


• Home • Table of Contents • General News •


YouTube  site
where my videos are posted


Pages  of  Special  Interest;

In Defence of Canadians Rights & Democracy


* Hazel McCallion - Mayor of Mississauga *
- 2009 -
* Conflict of Interest & Judicial Inquiry *


* Public Question Period Index *
!! A Mississauga Democratic Tradition Lost !!


• Defense Fund for Donald Barber •

• Sound Clip Gallery • Video Clip Gallery •

• Byron Osmond Pleas for Mercy • Peel police Wrong Doings •

• Hazel McCallion - Mayor of Mississauga - her Misdeeds • The Culham Brief •

• Order of Canada & its Corruption •

• End of Suburbia & Continuous Communities as the Solution - JOBS FOR LIFE •


Other  Table  of  Contents;
• Events • Archive of Links •
• Media - News Articles & Letters to Media • Literature & News Letters •

• Elections Results in Mississauga • Political History of Mississauga • Political, Democratic & Legal Issues •

• Political Methods • The Meaning of Words & Phrases • Political Satire & Parody •
• City Mississauga Committees • City Mississauga By-Laws & Policies •
• Security Insanity • Police Issues, Complaints & News Articles •
• FOI - Freedom of Information Results & Issues •
• Legal Issues • Unions Issues •

• Political Players & Persons of Interest • Ratepayers Groups & their Issues in Mississauga •



Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections:


Opening comments:  More at the end.

    Also ran as a Torstar Network story in the Mississauga News Aug 20, 2010 - Mayor, son at meeting - comments are from their site.


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

Comments by others to this web-page  - 12 - to this web-page at time of posting.


Toronto Star - Aug. 19, 2010 - By Phinjo Gombu Urban Affairs Reporter.

Mayor arranged meeting for son on land deal
Oxford official calls mother-son connection an
‘unfortunate fact of the transaction’

Michael Kitt, executive vice president, development, for Oxford Properties, testifies Thursday at the Mississauga judicial inquiry.
ROB BEINTEMA/MISSISSAUGA NEWS

Mayor Hazel McCallion both requested and participated in a meeting between her son, Peter, and a pension fund official who was negotiating changes to a $14.4 million land deal with Peter’s company, the Mississauga inquiry heard Thursday.

“The mayor set up the meeting (with me,)” Michael Kitt told commission counsel Naomi Loewith.

“It wasn’t negotiating,” said Kitt, vice-president of Oxford Properties, a subsidiary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS).  “It was me sitting down and agreeing to meet Hazel …  That was the context.  It was not a negotiating session.”

In his testimony at the inquiry — which is probing the extent of Hazel McCallion’s role in the land deal — Kitt described her close attention to it as awkward, given that her son was involved in the deal.

He said he learned to accept it as “an unfortunate fact of the transaction.”  But he said it was the city’s business to deal with issues of conflict, not his as the vendor of the land.

At the May 13, 2008, meeting in the lobby of the Delta Meadowvale hotel, Kitt updated the mayor on the discussions he and Peter McCallion’s company were having to amend conditions OMERS had attached to selling a prime site near the Square One shopping mall.  The land sale, had it gone through, would have been highly lucrative for the company, World Class Developments, which wanted to build a $1.5 billion hotel, convention centre and condo project there.

Halfway through the meeting, Kitt said, Peter McCallion showed up and said the company needed extensions to meet certain stipulations.

Kitt said he told the younger McCallion that would not be possible.  Two months later, amendments did allow the company to keep the faltering deal alive for the rest of the year.

Kitt’s testimony marks the first time the inquiry has heard the mayor arranged for and directly participated in discussions involving her son and the property.

The hotel meeting followed a March 27 gathering with Mayor McCallion held in the office of Michael Nobrega, president of the $40 billion pension fund.  It included Kitt’s boss, Michael Latimer, who heads Oxford, but not Peter McCallion.  It’s not clear who asked for the meeting.

At that time, the mayor discussed her long-held vision for a five-star hotel on the lands being purchased by World Class Developments.  She also vouched for Tony DeCicco, a Vaughan developer who had recently been brought into the project as a majority owner by Peter McCallion.

The inquiry has heard that Mayor McCallion passionately championed the interests of World Class Developments, going over the heads of negotiators by dealing directly with Nobrega.  She intervened at critical moments throughout that year — something her lawyers insist she did in the best interests of the city, not her son.

McCallion’s lawyer has argued that she believed her son was acting only as a real estate agent with World Class Developments and not as a part-owner, though she was the signing witness on an agreement that effectively gave him a stake in the company.

Kitt said that before he met the mayor and her son, he had already been handed an internal World Class Developments memorandum — by either Latimer or Nobrega — that contained changes the company wanted to the conditional sale.  That document formed the basis for future changes.

The July 2008, extensions and conditions attached to the land sale were amended, kept the agreement alive until the end of the year, before OMERS finally backed away from the deal on January 9,2009.

Also testifying Thursday was Marilyn Ball, a senior planner for the city of Mississauga, who said the mayor never intervened on when the hotel project came up for planning approvals.

The inquiry has been adjourned to Sept. 13.


Comments by others - 12 - to this web-page at time of posting;


Think About It

Aug 22, 2010 1:06 PM

Under our Land of OZ, Wikipedia's C poor quality scale is missiing important content that contains a lot of irrelevant material .

When our articles reach their references to reliable sources, Wikipedia's going to have significant issues and require substantial cleanup { holding a 92% majority of the votes, and has often been reelected without even needing to conduct an actual campaign } Paste .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Hazel_McCallion

* Agree 1
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

Stephen Wahl

Aug 22, 2010 12:09 PM

I laugh I cry

As I read through the articles in this paper and others; I often burst out laughing at many of the outrageous and unbelievable statements made. Even funnier and crazier are the comments by Muse and others. Then I check out their sources and transcripts of the Inquiry only to discover that nobody is joking around. The ridiculous, the inane and the implausible; they all come together here in the fantasy land of OZ that we call Mississauga. Then I cry. The shame of it all. The despair.

* Agree 4
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 22, 2010 10:16 AM

@ Johnny99, you wrote, "It is my understanding that Marilyn Ball worked as Dave O'Brien's Executive Assistant while he was the City Manager. Just before he left to join Enersource, Dave O'Brien promoted Marilyn Ball to the position of Director."

ARE YOU *KIDDING*?! [cut-and-pasted from World Mayor's Contest 2005 where McCallion was runner-up]: "From Pradheep, Mississauga Question: We hear constantly of cronyism and corruption on every level of government throughout the world. What steps did you take to prevent it in Mississauga? Mayor McCallion replies: First of all, corruption and cronyism stem from a number of factors such as lack of accountability, a weak reporting structure and ambiguous or non-existent corporate policies and procedures etc. What we have done at the City of Mississauga is put into place measures to try to prevent corruption before it happens." Evil. Evil. EVIL.

* Agree 4
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

Johnny99

Aug 22, 2010 10:03 AM

Marilyn Ball Was Promoted BY Dave O'Brien

It is my understanding that Marilyn Ball worked as Dave O'Brien's Executive Assistant while he was the City Manager. Just before he left to join Enersource, Dave O'Brien promoted Marilyn Ball to the position of Director. This position did not exist prior to Ms. Ball being appointed to it, and it was filled without any kind of internal job posting process. Marilyn Ball was, apparently, instrumental in having the WCD submission moved through the Planning Department without any of the requisite fees being paid. Isn't that interesting. I too am surprised that this relationship was not more deeply explored as part of this inquiry.

* Agree 5
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 22, 2010 10:01 AM

@ LLemon, try David O'Brien's bio on the OMERS page at: http://tinyurl.com/2fecbqm

Of course it's what OMERS doesn't mention that matters! Like that DAVID O'BRIEN HAS NO MEMORY AND NEVER TAKES NOTES! Quote: "David O’Brien is retired as President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Hydro Corporation...Prior to joining Toronto Hydro Corporation, Mr. O’Brien was on a six-month secondment with Ontario’s Ministry of Energy from the City of Mississauga... later appointed as Deputy Minister. David O’Brien began his career 31 years ago in the City of Sudbury where he rose to the position of City Manager...held the position of City Manager for the Region of Ottawa Carleton, the City of Gloucester, the City of Ottawa, and most recently, the City of Mississauga where he was City Manager... also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Enersource Corporation... appointed to the Board of Directors of Enersource Corporation and Chair of the Development Committee... also member of the Board Plutonic Power Corporation... the graduate level."

* Agree 2
 

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 22, 2010 9:53 AM

@ LLemon, yes. David O'Brien's wife, Marilyn Ball joined City of Mississauga in 1989. So yes, she'd have been promoted while he was City Manager.

When asked her background, TRANSCRIPT August 19, 2010 Marilyn Ball says: "A: Yes. I'm a graduate of the University of Toronto in geography, a BA. Following that, I did a few years at the City of Barrie in their planning department. I've been a few years with the Region of Peel in their planning department before joining the City of Mississauga in 1989, and in the planning department. I've hold several -- held several positions in the Planning Department before becoming director in 2004." O'Brien was City Manager from 1995 to 2004. Should mention that in 2004 she got promoted to Director and her hubby got promoted to Toronto Hydro! Just coincidence I'm sure! :-)

* Agree 3
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

LLemon

Aug 22, 2010 8:36 AM

Curious why inquiry didn't explore the Ball/O'Brien/Oxford conflicts

so, Ball is the Director of Development and Design, responsible for development approvals and collection of fees. Her spouse is a director with OMERS, with Oxford as its development arm. WTF? Why did the inquiry not question this relationship further? And, btw, does anyone know if O'Brien ever promoted Ball whilst still at the city? This stinks.

* Agree 6
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 21, 2010 8:32 AM

@ Tony, apologies. Tried to cram in too much into that last message

Trying to say that when I replay all the video of Enersource and Judicial Inquiry debates (GenCom, Council, public meetings) plus other videos (Friends of Hazel Rally, Hazel McCallion speeches in Election 2006) other hints (2nd floor "Citizen of the Year" Gallery), buildings/parks named after them, a picture emerges of what families own The Corporation of the City of Mississauga. SHIPP. McCallion. OMERS. (Would be insightful to create a map of Mississauga and colour in all property owned/developed by SHIPP and OMERS. (I recall seeing an OMERS email in the Inquiry evidence mentioning that it was important to keep the "City" happy. And a clarification saying that "City" is "code" for the Mayor.)

* Agree 2
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 21, 2010 8:24 AM

@ Tony. I suspect that's "or" is the wrong conjuction

You asked "Which family own the City of Mississauga Corporation? The McCallion or O'Brien/Ball family!'" Before I answer, just want to say that I have videotape of (almost) all Enersource debates at General Committee and Council meetings, 120% of all Enersource public meetings (meaning video of Before AND After meetings). I also have (almost) all Judicial Inquiry debates at GenCom and Council and 120% of all Mississauga Inquiry public meetings (meaning video of Before AND After meetings). It's not the O'Brien/Ball --their like remoras grooming/feeding off sharks (just running with their meal tickets). That December 2009 Friend of Hazel Rally clinched it for me who owns the Corporation of the City of Mississauga. SHIPP. McCallion. The last leg on the stool is OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employee Retirement System). Here's a fact that Hazel revealed. Ontario is the only province in Canada where social housing is not a provincial matter but was downloaded to municipalities. Whose advantage is what? Who do you thin

* Agree 4
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

Tony Jackson

Aug 20, 2010 10:48 PM

Which family own the City of Mississauga Corporation?

The McCallion or O'Brien/Ball family!

* Agree 5
 

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 20, 2010 10:06 PM

Quote "Also testifying yesterday was Marilyn Ball, a senior planner for the City of Mississauga, who said the mayor never intervened when the hotel project came up for planning approvals."

And get this. Marilyn Ball is wife of OMERS' Board of Director and Enersource contract slinger, David O'Brien. So, in this one inquiry we see a husband and wife team "working" behind-the-scenes on Tony DeCicco's development efforts. And Hazel and son doin' their thing. And David O'Brien also trustee of the McCallion family trust. Which raises the question. How many other municipalities?...

* Agree 4
* |
* Disagree
* |
* Offensive

The Mississauga Muse

Aug 20, 2010 10:02 PM

Michael Kitt, "But he said it was the City’s business to deal with issues of conflict, not his as the seller of the land."

However Alberta-based pension fund, AIMCo *did* see problems with conflict of interest! OMERS mantra should be "I zee nothink! I hear nothink! Ve say nothink!"

* Agree 3



Home Page   -  Main Table of  Contents  -  Back up a page  -   Back to Top


[COMMENTS BY DON B. -  ]



Your Financial Donations are Greatly Appreciated
and Very Much Needed to Ensure the Survival of
THE  DEMOCRATIC  REPORTER


The
Donald Barber Defense Fund
Needs help right now
&
Now Accepting Pay Pal.


• Home Page • Main Table of Contents •

Back to Top

• About This Web-Site & Contact Info •