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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, 3 - at time of posting.
Mississauga News - Nov. 18, 2009 - By Radhika Pajnwani, rpanjwani@mississauga.netCity to hire an integrity commissioner In the wake of recent conflict-of-interest allegations against Mayor Hazel McCallion, the City of Mississauga is planning to hire an integrity commissioner.
To lay the groundwork, councillors today voted to establish a committee — comprising councillors Katie Mahoney, George Carlson and Eve Adams, along with staff — to prepare a code of conduct for members of council and to determine the mandate and duties of an integrity commissioner.
The code of conduct will address the decorum members of council should observe at council and committee meetings. It will also spell out how councillors and the mayor should deal with other matters, including confidential information, gifts and election campaigns.
Mississauga will join the ranks of Toronto and Vaughan should it decide to hire an ethics watchdog. It will be Peel’s first, since Brampton recently nixed the notion.
“I think the idea is an excellent one,” said McCallion, who came under fire this summer for attending private meetings with a developer, fronted by her son, when the City Centre land deal was still before council. “I want to compliment Councillor Mahoney for bringing it forward. I think it will bring a lot of respect for one another in council chambers. I endorse it.”
Carlson echoed her sentiments.
“Having read the terms of reference from other municipalities, I think we’ve got a good general foundation and, from the public’s point of view, it will increase transparency in local government,” he said.
Ward 6 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, however, had some reservations. She cited instances where integrity commissioners were fired when they disagreed with councillors, and wants to ensure that it does not happen in Mississauga.
Still up in the air is how much an integrity commissioner will cost taxpayers.
Vaughan and Toronto have allocated a budget of $200,000 while municipalities such as Kitchener, Woodstock and Port Hope hire them on an as-needed basis for anywhere between $125 to $259 per hour.
Comments by others, 3, to this web-page;
Political Integrity Commissioner? New World Dictionary: "Integrity" (synonym: 5 year old); (opposite: politician) Integrity a word once used to sum up the best in all of us that we carry with us everyday, everywhere; hijacked by scoundrels. * Agree 1
The Mississauga Muse Nov 18, 2009 8:38 PM
NOTE: The words "Ontario Ombudsman" were completely missing in the Corporate Report And. If the City were truly believed it was so exemplary, why the fear of the Ontario Ombudsman having a look about on behalf of citizens? And if the City were truly committed to coming Clean, they'd invite him in for Investigator. Trust me. There's no policy that Mississauga (or any other Bill 130 LAS municipality) can't pervert. * Agree 6
The Mississauga Muse Nov 18, 2009 8:35 PM
SO WHY DOESN'T THIS ARTICLE MAKE ANY MENTION OF THE ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN? Seriously people, read the Corporate Report how so many municipalities are looking to get an Integrity Commissioner in the past year. Why? Only one reason. The Ontario Ombudsman has exposed so many government scams and the public is waking up. How best to avoid the Ontario Ombudsman? Hire your own "Integrity Commissioner". Oh there's Transparency all right. There are about 440 municipalities in Ontario. And we're going to trust each one to hire their Own? Who's THAT stupid? * Agree 6
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