Daily BrewMississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion faces fate in conflict of interest ruling
If Hazel McCallion, the 92-year-old mayor of Mississauga, Ont., ever leaves office, the legend goes that it be on the back of a winged unicorn as trumpets blare and citizens cheer.
And that it would come at the whim of McCallion herself, the mythical municipal leader who has held the position for 34 years. Fantasy and legends aside, Hurricane Hazel is a political force that has shaped Mississauga since she was first elected 1978. In her last election she received 76 per cent of the vote.
And she could be thrown from office on Friday pending the result of a conflict of interest hearing.
CBC News reports that Justice John Sproat will deliver his ruling on whether McCallion broke conflict guidelines when she voted on an issue at the benefit of her son's development company.
Allegations against McCallion suggest she voted in 2007 to help Peter McCallion's company World Class Developments avoid paying higher development fees on a $1.5 billion project hotel and convention centre in downtown Mississauga. The deal eventually fell apart, but a vote held by the Region of Peel Council could have saved the company some $11 million.
The Globe and Mail reports that McCallion argued in court that "you can't always be aware of what your family members are doing," adding that she thought he son was a simple real estate agent representing the developer, and not a principal with the company.
She did, however, testify to being a witness signatory on a document that gave her son ownership to the company. But she denies knowing the purpose of the document.
The ruling today could determine whether McCallion is thrown out of office for putting family before her position, or whether she survives and is free to leave office on her own accord.
