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Opening comments: More at the end.
To the main Judicial Inquiry page - to the Hazel McCallion page.
Torstar Network - May 26, 2010 - By ~with files from Joseph Chin
Files stay sealed
Transcripts sealed.
Justice Douglas Cunningham ruled today that transcripts of questions posed in private to Peter McCallion about his financial situation will remain sealed.
File photo by Fred Loek
Transcripts of questions posed in private to Peter McCallion about his financial situation will remain sealed, the judge overseeing the Mississauga inquiry ruled today.
The Mississauga News had filed a motion asking for the transcripts of questions asked by commission counsel William McDowell to be made public.
Justice Douglas Cunningham said he was keeping the records sealed because it was “precisely the kind of intimate financial information” that he had the discretion to protect.
However, Cunningham said any matters relating to the failed land deal that spurred the inquiry will be fully explored.
Judy Imerson, The News’ director of editorial, expressed disappointment with Cunningham’s findings.
“The commissioner didn’t address the fact that these are taxpayers’ dollars that are being spent on Peter McCallion’s legal costs,” she said. “I think that any time public monies are spent to benefit an individual, taxpayers have a right to know the details — all the details — surrounding the expenditure. Now, Mississauga residents will be forced to subsidize Peter McCallion's legal bills, but we’ll never know why.”
McCallion’s submission to the inquiry states that he earns $50,000 to $60,000 per year selling houses for De Zen Homes in Mississauga. Despite being involved in real estate for decades, he said he owns no property and turned over the title of his own house to partially pay off a debt.
Cunningham has recommended that the City of Mississauga pay the full cost of McCallion’s legal representation at the inquiry. Council had voted to cap reimbursement for his legal fees at $100,000.
Council today voted to accept Cunningham’s recommendation.
The inquiry is looking into the roles of the City and McCallion in the failed sale of a 3.5-hectare parcel of land valued at $14.4 million.
Court documents described the participation of McCallion’s mother, Mayor Hazel McCallion, in at least two private meetings on the deal while the status of the land was before Council.
The mayor had previously declared a conflict of interest in the matter, according to Council minutes.
Comments by others - 1 - to this web-page at time of posting;
Uatu May 26, 2010 9:55 PM
What does that last sentence mean?
"The mayor had previously declared a conflict of interest in the matter, according to Council minutes." Yes, she had at times, but this statement is highly disingenuous. Why doesn't it mention that she famously did NOT declare a conflict at a meeting where someone altered the Council meeting minutes to say that she had? It is completely misleading to leave it this way. This is shoddy journalism at best.
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