Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments: More at the end. Toronto Sun - Oct. 3, 2009 - By Ted Woloshyn, TED.WOLOSHYN@SUNMEDIA.CA Is it Hazel's time to go? Hell, no Miller may be tired, but Mississauga's 89-year David Miller's decision to not seek a third term as Toronto's mayor surprised me. Quite frankly it made perfect sense; he was dogged by a swelling deficit he miscalculated, haunted by the garbage strike, and most likely did want to spend time with his young kids. But his announcement really caused me to think about the future of another mayor, the Energizer bunny in my backyard, known simply as Hazel. Hazel McCallion has ruled Mississauga for more than three decades, and should she run again next year, she would be three months shy of her 90th birthday. Reason enough, some say, to step down. Recently she's been under fire by councillors who have requested a judicial probe to examine a potential conflict of interest regarding a land deal connected to her son Peter. The conflict-of-interest allegations stem from her involvement in a $14.4-million failed land deal Peter brokered. Mayor McCallion apparently took part in two private meetings about the purchase, and didn't declare a conflict at a May 2008 council meeting, although the minutes state she did. The results of this probe could alter the landscape of Mississauga in a monumental fashion. No doubt this is causing her a substantial amount of stress -- not dissimilar to the type of stress Miller endured. But she may walk away for the most part unscathed. TWO REASONS Still, in concert, these two points of discussion beg the question, "Does Mississauga need a new mayor for the next decade of the new millennium?" I say no -- for two reasons. I also need to say Mayor McCallion and I are friends, but sometimes the best advice a friend can give another friend may not be what they want to hear, and if I believed she should walk away I'd tell her. But I don't think she should. Unless of course it's her decision. First, I don't believe age is an issue here. Hazel has shown no signs she can't continue, and I just don't buy into ageism. You're either capable or not, and she is more than capable. Second, of all those on council with Hazel, they either couldn't handle the job or have not indicated they want it. Perhaps in deference to the mayor, or perhaps they shudder at the thought of trying to keep up with McCallion's schedule and commitments. In other words if you want to follow Hazel, be ready to give up your life. And then there's Coun. Carolyn Parrish. She wants the job worse than Jim Ballsillie wants a hockey team in Hamilton, and has done everything she can, in my view, to undermine the mayor's position. So much so that McCallion can no longer get motions passed in council. Parrish and five colleagues backing her simply out-vote Hazel whenever they desire. Parrish also knows she can't run against the mayor because she'd lose, and if she did run it would be seen as throwing Hazel under a bus. So what's her best option? Make McCallion's life a living hell, and hope she quits on her own. PARRISH A DISASTER Parrish would be a disaster for Mississauga. She tows a ton of bad baggage -- imagine her as mayor, welcoming a U.S. representative to Mississauga. "Aren't you the woman who called us American bastards, and then stepped on a George Bush doll?" Her demeanour would fly directly in the face of the Mississauga's positive reputation. Does Mississauga need a new mayor? Not unless voters want one or it's proven the current boss can't do the job -- and I haven't seen evidence of either. Certainly not if Carolyn Parrish is the alternative. Comments by others, 14, to this web-page; f October 8th 2009, 6:09pm HaleysComet October 6th 2009, 9:39pm| MISSISSAUGAWATCH October 6th 2009, 12:04pm Let the comments here (and over at the Globe and the Star) bear testimony to how Hazel McCallion achieved her Cult Status. A fanatic group of supporters (who have $$benefited$$ from McCallion's reign either financially or through favour (ie: funded for the Arts, Gardens, Festivals, special interests etc etc). Her 5,000 plus employees, spouses, voting-age kids, Enersource employees, resident-employees from other municipalties. A larger group who haven't a clue how McCallion really runs Mississauga (because they only base their "news" on traditional media or what the City itself feeds them in flyers. Here's a fact. Hazel McCallion hasn't a CLUE how the City is run. She's left it ENTIRELY up to her Staff! ANYBODY can do that! MISSISSAUGAWATCH October 6th 2009, 11:55am I've been researching McCallion's Mississauga through Freedom of Information (FOI) since January 2007. I've spent over $2,000 on FOI's and have another bill for $65.00 today for City documents. In addition I've attended (and videotaped) most Mississauga Council meetings since September 2006. Here is a FACT. Even though Ted Woloshyn admits to be Hazel McCallion's friend, he hasn't TWO CLUES about how she runs the City. HEY TED! Next time you see Hazel, ask her about her Security guards' ban and arrests kids! And ask her about the Conflict of Interest she condones with a Manager allowed to discipline --HIMSELF! The Ram October 5th 2009, 5:13pm U R a Cartoon "Character", Madam!!! Stay in the Kitchen; just Don't Hatch up your Witches' Brew, for Us to Retch Over. To All Those who Voted for Her, in her Ward. . . R U just Illeterates (in which case U have my Deepest Sympathy); OR Do you Hate the Rest of Us Mississaugans (and Our City) So Much, that you would Subject Us to Ms. Parish's Shenanigans? Just think about it, people. . . Even the FIBERALS, the WORST AND LOWEST of the LOT when it comes to GUTTER BEHAVIOUR COULDN'T STOMACH HER and KICKED her OUT. . . . and U VOTED her IN?????? The Next Time Around, please Do Not Compound your Error. Get Rid of Her. She is an EMBARRASSMENT to ALL of US!!!!!! Mississauga would Perish under Parrish October 4th 2009, 7:41am free froggy October 4th 2009, 4:40am mz October 3rd 2009, 5:43pm John L October 3rd 2009, 5:06pm It strikes me that someone actively campainging against the mayor and having ambitions for the job now crying crocodile tears over the matter suggests a major issue of character. Even if Hazel is determined to be guilty of questionable wisdom on this matter she has a long history of good performance in the role of mayor. In contrast Parrish has a long history of bad judgement, infantile behaviour and failure to perform Keep in mind that she was expelled from the Liberal caucus for her behaviour. How in the world could she be perceived as a better option? norm October 3rd 2009, 4:18pm As for Parrish she needs to understand Americans don't hate all Canadians. Just STUPID ones. Igor October 3rd 2009, 3:01pm Frank October 3rd 2009, 2:22pm par is , your lie bral roots are showing October 3rd 2009, 2:03pm par is we, the good people of mississauga .... DO NOT TAKE KINDLY to DRIVE BY SMEAR CAMPAIGN.. on THE HONOURABLE HAZEL .... HAZEL has stated for the RECORD her case for all to see HAZEL WE, THE GOOD PEOPLE OF MISSISSAUGA, L O V E you . period. tim October 3rd 2009, 1:12pm Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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