An Update on the Murk at City Hall

Mayor Larry O’Brien’s disdain for public administration, and preference for closed meetings and decision making processes continues. Despite having a wealth of experienced policy analysts, managers, and administrators at City Hall, our gold-Mercedes-limo-driving Mayor hired his old pal Gordon J. Hunter as his new ‘senior advisor on transformation’. Larry O's election campaign manager, former Department of National Defence employee, and current defence industry lobbyist was paid $80,000 to work on the study (the Mayor’s annual office budget is $819,000). To charge these rates, Hunter must be well qualified to conduct a study of the City's complex functioning. I am sure that in his previous roles Hunter had extensive experience with public transit, housing, recreation, and social services. From my understanding these are services with which a procurement manager at DND and defence lobbyist has everyday contact.

It is not only a question of (in)competence, but also of openness and transparency. The City continues to withhold several documents produced by Gordon “Defence Lobbyist” Hunter. Furthermore, neither Hunter's rate of billing or hours or work was released. These are basic facts which related to the public allocation of funds and to public tendering rules. When the Larry O spends 10% of his annual budget to hire his buddy we have to ask questions, and have a right to demand full disclosure. After all the Mayor’s office budget is a public expense, owned by the Citizens - it is not his own personal slush fund. Today, Councillors from Left (Cullen), Right (Harder) and Center (Feltmate) asked for the reports findings to be released. I laud them for their effort. We have to keep pressing for open process at City Hall. Too much is at stake to let revanchist autocrats like Larry O and his coffer-stuffing buddies steal off with our city.