![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldA scandal involving a possible conflict of interest involving Hazel McCallion, mayor since 1978 of Toronto's western neighbour city of Mississauga, seems to have ended. No one cares.
I've written in the past about Toronto's neighbour, a fast-growing city--one of the largest in Canada, now--that, as Gertrude Stein said of her native Oakland, has "no there there". Lacking much by way of a single downtown (or even a collection of downtowns), an integrated municipal transit infrastructure, or much of a local mass media, Mississauga is a preeminently suburban and exurban city built in the context of low public spending. How low? The city's infrastructure--roads, particularly--is fast-aging.
But do the people of McCallion's city mind? No. In the last election, McCallion was elected with 76% of the vote. She is, simply put, outstandingly popular, a grandmother figure whose competent administration of a city with few visible costs and whose directness makes her a politician everyone loves. Talking on CBC Radio this afternoon, even, McCallion presented her involvement as motivated by her desire to help her city develop further, by putting a hotel and conference centre complex near the very large Square One mall. You know what? I buy this; I could, at least.
And you know what? Rob Ford so wants to be Hazel McCallion. He had some of the elements, to be sure--man of the people, "straight talker", concerned with local economic development. There have been intermittent signs that the two have been courting each other discreetly, McCallion saying Ford was on the "right track" last year (but not recently). But Toronto is not Mississauga, with the former city's own urban/suburban divides, and Ford, whatever else he may be, lacks McCallion's politic touch. The recent controversy over the Don Portlands prove it. Ford will be lucky to be a one-term mayor.
The inquiry probing the possible violation of conflict of interest rules by longtime Mississauga, Ont., Mayor Hazel McCallion has found that she had a "real and apparent conflict of interest."
The City of Mississauga judicial inquiry report by Justice Douglas Cunningham ruled that McCallion was inappropriately involved in a failed $14.4-million land deal between the city and World Class Developments, a development company partly owned by her son, Peter McCallion.
The report states that people "fortunate enough to enjoy friendships" with the mayor have reaped benefits from those ties, and that the popular mayor's actions raise "significant concerns."
Cunningham, who wrote the report, said he made his findings with a "measure of regret" because of McCallion's "unique history of public service" to Mississauga. In fact, he said he was hopeful his recommendations would "enjoy her personal support."
The report found that reforms are necessary at the provincial level and recommends changes to Mississauga's Code of Conduct, the Conflict of Interest Act and the Municipal Act, as well as an enhanced role for an integrity commissioner.
"It is clear that Mississauga, and indeed all Ontario municipalities, requires a better ethical infrastructure," concluded the report. Economic transparency will serve to "protect the public interest by removing possibilities for members of council to discharge their public offices in their pursuits of private interests."'
I've written in the past about Toronto's neighbour, a fast-growing city--one of the largest in Canada, now--that, as Gertrude Stein said of her native Oakland, has "no there there". Lacking much by way of a single downtown (or even a collection of downtowns), an integrated municipal transit infrastructure, or much of a local mass media, Mississauga is a preeminently suburban and exurban city built in the context of low public spending. How low? The city's infrastructure--roads, particularly--is fast-aging.
But do the people of McCallion's city mind? No. In the last election, McCallion was elected with 76% of the vote. She is, simply put, outstandingly popular, a grandmother figure whose competent administration of a city with few visible costs and whose directness makes her a politician everyone loves. Talking on CBC Radio this afternoon, even, McCallion presented her involvement as motivated by her desire to help her city develop further, by putting a hotel and conference centre complex near the very large Square One mall. You know what? I buy this; I could, at least.
And you know what? Rob Ford so wants to be Hazel McCallion. He had some of the elements, to be sure--man of the people, "straight talker", concerned with local economic development. There have been intermittent signs that the two have been courting each other discreetly, McCallion saying Ford was on the "right track" last year (but not recently). But Toronto is not Mississauga, with the former city's own urban/suburban divides, and Ford, whatever else he may be, lacks McCallion's politic touch. The recent controversy over the Don Portlands prove it. Ford will be lucky to be a one-term mayor.
