OMB INQUIRY PRESS CONFERENCE REMARKS
ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD INVESTIGATION
ON EAST END ARENA ACTIONS DEMANDED!
AS YOU KNOW FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE ACTED IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF WINDSORITES. I WAS GENERAL COUNSEL OF STOPDRTP, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GRASSROOTS CITIZENS GROUP IN WINDSOR FIGHTING THE BORDER MATTER. I FOUNDED OJIBWAY NOW! AND THEN I STARTED A BLOG ON WINDSOR POLITICS CALLED WINDSORCITYBLOG. (www.windsorcityon.blogspot.com)
IF YOU ARE A BLOG READER, YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE DISILLUSIONED AND CRITICAL ABOUT THE WAY MAYOR EDDIE FRANCIS AND COUNCILLORS HAVE CONDUCTED BUSINESS IN WINDSOR. MY REMARKS NOW ARE NOT MEANT TO BE AN ELECTION SPEECH BUT WE HAVE SEEN A LACK OF OPEN AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT AND DEALS THAT ARE POORLY HANDLED. I QUESTION OUR FINANCES ESPECIALLY RELATING TO UNKNOWNS SUCH AS ENWIN AND THE WINDSOR TUNNEL.
THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT IN MY OPINION DID LITTLE UNTIL A MONTH BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND THEN---ACTION, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ON THE MAJOR ELECTION ISSUE, THE ARENA. I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED RESPECTING THE ARENA NOW. ALL THAT I KNOW IS THAT TWO OF WINDSOR’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES OFFERED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO BUILD AN ARENA THAT WE HAVE WANTED TO HAVE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, IT IS BEING BUILT IN TECUMSEH. INSTEAD, A COMPANY THAT SEEMED TO APPEAR OUT OF THE BLUE HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BUILD AN ARENA DESIGNED IN 1999 THAT MET THE NEEDS OF THE TOWN OF PORT HURON WHOSE POPULATION IS ABOUT 15% OF OURS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A REAL IDEA WHAT WE ARE BUYING, WHERE IT WILL GO AND WHAT THE TOTAL COST WILL BE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FIRST NO MATTER WHAT!
I AND OTHERS SPOKE AT COUNCIL ABOUT THE ARENA PROPOSAL. THOSE WHO RAISED CONCERNS WERE GENERALLY IGNORED BY COUNCIL’S CHEERLEADING FOR THE EAST END ARENA. THE MORE I WENT INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS MATTER THE ANGRIER I BECAME.
HOWEVER, I COULD NOT QUITE FIGURE OUT WHY I WAS SO MAD. THEN I READ THE MAYORS COMMENTS ON SATURDAY ABOUT THE MFP SETTLEMENT. HE SAID:
IF YOU ARE A BLOG READER, YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE DISILLUSIONED AND CRITICAL ABOUT THE WAY MAYOR EDDIE FRANCIS AND COUNCILLORS HAVE CONDUCTED BUSINESS IN WINDSOR. MY REMARKS NOW ARE NOT MEANT TO BE AN ELECTION SPEECH BUT WE HAVE SEEN A LACK OF OPEN AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT AND DEALS THAT ARE POORLY HANDLED. I QUESTION OUR FINANCES ESPECIALLY RELATING TO UNKNOWNS SUCH AS ENWIN AND THE WINDSOR TUNNEL.
THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT IN MY OPINION DID LITTLE UNTIL A MONTH BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND THEN---ACTION, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ON THE MAJOR ELECTION ISSUE, THE ARENA. I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED RESPECTING THE ARENA NOW. ALL THAT I KNOW IS THAT TWO OF WINDSOR’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES OFFERED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO BUILD AN ARENA THAT WE HAVE WANTED TO HAVE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, IT IS BEING BUILT IN TECUMSEH. INSTEAD, A COMPANY THAT SEEMED TO APPEAR OUT OF THE BLUE HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BUILD AN ARENA DESIGNED IN 1999 THAT MET THE NEEDS OF THE TOWN OF PORT HURON WHOSE POPULATION IS ABOUT 15% OF OURS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A REAL IDEA WHAT WE ARE BUYING, WHERE IT WILL GO AND WHAT THE TOTAL COST WILL BE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FIRST NO MATTER WHAT!
I AND OTHERS SPOKE AT COUNCIL ABOUT THE ARENA PROPOSAL. THOSE WHO RAISED CONCERNS WERE GENERALLY IGNORED BY COUNCIL’S CHEERLEADING FOR THE EAST END ARENA. THE MORE I WENT INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS MATTER THE ANGRIER I BECAME.
HOWEVER, I COULD NOT QUITE FIGURE OUT WHY I WAS SO MAD. THEN I READ THE MAYORS COMMENTS ON SATURDAY ABOUT THE MFP SETTLEMENT. HE SAID:
- “WINDSOR HAS REACHED A FINAL SETTLEMENT WITH THE FORMER MFP, CLOSING THE BOOKS ON ONE OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S MOST SHAMEFUL CHAPTERS…
"THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING EVERY COUNCIL ACROSS THIS PROVINCE AND COUNTRY REMEMBERS SO THEY ENFORCE THE PROPER POLICIES AND VIGILANCE TO ENSURE THIS SITUATION NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN...
…HOPEFULLY THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS PEOPLE EVER FORGET ABOUT.
IT REINFORCES HOW PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT IN ENSURING PROPER SAFEGUARDS AND PROTOCOLS ARE THERE TO ENSURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS."
IT WAS A EUREKA MOMENT FOR ME. I KNEW THEN WHAT THE ISSUE WAS: IN MY OPINION, THE ARENA IS THIS MAYOR’S AND THIS COUNCIL’S MFP AND CANDEREL
I HAVE IDENTIFIED 5 AREAS OF CONCERN IN RELATION TO THE ARENA MATTER:
1) WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF CASINO WINDSOR
2) WAS THE ARENA PROCESS A SHAM
a) THE LONG DELAY
b) WAS THE CHOICE PRE-DETERMINED
3) WILL THE ARENA BE WINDSOR’S NEXT MFP IF THE ARENA DECISION VIOLATED THE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY’S PURCHASING BY-LAW
4) ARE THERE SERIOUS FINANCIAL ISSUES
5) ARE THERE SERIOUS ETHICAL ISSUES
(a) WINDSOR SPITFIRE NEGOTIATIONS
(b) $4.5 MILLION PAYMENT
(c) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
(d) HIDDEN AGENDAS AND A MUNICIPAL ACT JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION
(e) ACTING IN AN UNREASONABLE MANNER AND NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF RESIDENTS
THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WHERE SOME MAY THINK THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL “BOMBSHELLS” IN WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THERE IS ALSO THE MORE MUNDANE “DOES THIS MAKE SENSE” QUESTIONS. WHILE I DO NOT WANT TO BE FAVOURING ONE PART OF THE REPORT OVER ANOTHER, CLEARLY MATTERS SUCH AS POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, POSSIBLE $4.5M PAYMENT, POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE PURCHASING BY-LAW ARE UNUSUAL MATTERS THAT DEMAND INVESTIGATION.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PURSUE ON MY OWN. I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DO A PROPER INVESTIGATION. MOREOVER, I CANNOT GET ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS OR EXAMINE PEOPLE UNDER OATH TO GET THE TRUE FACTS.
ONLY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE POWER TO ACT. ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER AND REPORT, ALL 23 PAGES OF IT, TO THE MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS OUTLINING MY CONCERNS IN DETAIL. I AM SEEKING AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE WHOLE ARENA SITUATION BY THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE BEFORE THE CITY GETS TOO DEEPLY ENTANGLED SUCH THAT WE NEED TO LITIGATE AS IN MFP.
WE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE NEED TO KNOW IF WINDSOR CAN REALLY AFFORD THIS ARENA. WE ARE THE ONES WHO MAY BE STUCK PAYING FOR AN ARENA AND THEREBY NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HIGHER PRIORITY MATTERS.
WE SUPPOSEDLY HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT US. PRICE WATERHOUSE DID A REPORT FOR US ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MFP. AND YET, THESE PROCEDURES SEEM, IF I AM CORRECT, TO BE SO EASILY FLOUTED. THAT IS A MATTER OF THE GREATEST CONCERN.
IT’S FUNNY. OUR MAYOR PREACHES THAT HE WANTS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN CANADA TO REMEMBER “HOW PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT IN ENSURING PROPER SAFEGUARDS AND PROTOCOLS.”
HOW QUICKLY HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE FORGOTTEN.
I HAVE IDENTIFIED 5 AREAS OF CONCERN IN RELATION TO THE ARENA MATTER:
1) WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF CASINO WINDSOR
2) WAS THE ARENA PROCESS A SHAM
a) THE LONG DELAY
b) WAS THE CHOICE PRE-DETERMINED
3) WILL THE ARENA BE WINDSOR’S NEXT MFP IF THE ARENA DECISION VIOLATED THE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY’S PURCHASING BY-LAW
4) ARE THERE SERIOUS FINANCIAL ISSUES
5) ARE THERE SERIOUS ETHICAL ISSUES
(a) WINDSOR SPITFIRE NEGOTIATIONS
(b) $4.5 MILLION PAYMENT
(c) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
(d) HIDDEN AGENDAS AND A MUNICIPAL ACT JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION
(e) ACTING IN AN UNREASONABLE MANNER AND NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF RESIDENTS
THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WHERE SOME MAY THINK THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL “BOMBSHELLS” IN WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THERE IS ALSO THE MORE MUNDANE “DOES THIS MAKE SENSE” QUESTIONS. WHILE I DO NOT WANT TO BE FAVOURING ONE PART OF THE REPORT OVER ANOTHER, CLEARLY MATTERS SUCH AS POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, POSSIBLE $4.5M PAYMENT, POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE PURCHASING BY-LAW ARE UNUSUAL MATTERS THAT DEMAND INVESTIGATION.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PURSUE ON MY OWN. I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DO A PROPER INVESTIGATION. MOREOVER, I CANNOT GET ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS OR EXAMINE PEOPLE UNDER OATH TO GET THE TRUE FACTS.
ONLY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE POWER TO ACT. ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER AND REPORT, ALL 23 PAGES OF IT, TO THE MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS OUTLINING MY CONCERNS IN DETAIL. I AM SEEKING AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE WHOLE ARENA SITUATION BY THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE BEFORE THE CITY GETS TOO DEEPLY ENTANGLED SUCH THAT WE NEED TO LITIGATE AS IN MFP.
WE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE NEED TO KNOW IF WINDSOR CAN REALLY AFFORD THIS ARENA. WE ARE THE ONES WHO MAY BE STUCK PAYING FOR AN ARENA AND THEREBY NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HIGHER PRIORITY MATTERS.
WE SUPPOSEDLY HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT US. PRICE WATERHOUSE DID A REPORT FOR US ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MFP. AND YET, THESE PROCEDURES SEEM, IF I AM CORRECT, TO BE SO EASILY FLOUTED. THAT IS A MATTER OF THE GREATEST CONCERN.
IT’S FUNNY. OUR MAYOR PREACHES THAT HE WANTS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN CANADA TO REMEMBER “HOW PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT IN ENSURING PROPER SAFEGUARDS AND PROTOCOLS.”
HOW QUICKLY HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE FORGOTTEN.
posted by JoeBlog at 3:09 p.m.
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