Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments: More at the end. Interesting that this is not listed in the Missing News article list regarding the Mississauga Judicial Inquiry. To the main Judicial Inquiry page - to the Hazel McCallion page. Mississauga News - Aug. 16, 2010 - By Joe Chin - jchin@mississauga.net McCallion: A penchant for controversy In 1982, less than four years in office as mayor, she was the focus of a similar probe. And the cases are eerily similar, both delving into her role in a development in which her family was involved. In 1982, former Streetsville mayor and political foe of McCallion, Jack Graham, asked a Peel County Court judge to throw McCallion out of office because he felt she may have violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act when the issues surrounding the releasing of 3,800 acres of land for development came before Council. The parcels included a five-acre plot the McCallion family owned in the East Credit area. Just as now, the case concerned just when McCallion declared a conflict of interest and how much she participated in meetings when she or her family were affected. “The stakes had never been higher for a political leader in Mississauga,” wrote Tom Urbaniak in his book, Her Worship: Hazel McCallion and the Development of Mississauga. “Councillors attended in numbers, ostensibly in solidarity with McCallion. She even collected an undisclosed amount in donations from sympathizers. Local limousine drivers set up a fund to support her.” Judge Ernest West ruled that McCallion had indeed violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, but found it occurred because of a “bona fide error in judgement” by McCallion. As a result, he had to allow her to keep office. McCallion emerged from the courtroom relieved, waving to her supporters. She was also defiant, unlike her demeanor earlier that day when she appeared subdued and visibly shaken. “I don’t know what you mean that I was found guilty. The charges were dismissed and that’s the key of the issue,” she told reporters. “I’m very happy and look forward to continuing as mayor of Mississauga,” she added jubilantly. McCallion appealed the decision and lost. Indeed she lost to such at extent, the appeals court ruled she had to pay court costs. Her supporters took up a collection. However, not everyone was happy McCallion walked free. Former Mississauga Mayor Ron Searle, whom she defeated in the 1978 election, thought McCallion shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it, and ran against her in the election later that year on a platform of integrity. He received 24 per cent of the vote, contrasted with McCallion’s 71 per cent. Coincidentally, the current inquiry is also occurring in an election year, and McCallion has said she intends to run again – this time for her 12th term in office. Comments by others - 1 - to this web-page at time of posting; Uatu Aug 16, 2010 9:12 PM My bet is that we haven't seen the last of the similarities "Judge Ernest West ruled that McCallion had indeed violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, but found it occurred because of a 'bona fide error in judgement' by McCallion." Well yeah, when you get caught breaking the law it's a safe bet there was an error in judgment somewhere along the way. I wonder why more people aren't excused for this reason. * Agree 3 Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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