City-employed CEO used bags of public money

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It is a deeply disheartening example of a public official freeloading at your expense. The full accounting of just what Dan Brambilla, chief executive of the city-owned Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, got for being in that job is breathtaking. When he was married in 2010, the centre paid him $7,910 for use of the photos to market the venue as a wedding location. The National Post records what one councillor called it “an enormous laundry list of indiscretions” compiled by Mr. Brambilla.  The centre paid Mr. Brambilla as a consultant from 2002 to 2008, until the Canada Revenue Agency “determined that the CEO was an employee and not a consultant,” declassified papers from the city’s auditor show. Here are some more: The Sony Centre reimbursed: $2,500 Mr. Brambilla paid to attend the Mayoral Harmony Dinner in 2011, $600 for a fundraiser with Bob Rae in 2010, airfare and event tickets worth $1,250 for Nancy Brambilla, the CEO’s wife, on trips she took with him to Ottawa and Quebec City, $890 for a staff holiday lunch with seven employees, in which 38% of the pre-tax bill was for alcohol, tickets to four other fundraisers for Liberal politicians, totalling $1,550. The Post says Mr. Brambilla liked to dine in the Sony Centre cafeteria with his wife, the documents show. His employer regularly reimbursed him for 50% of the cost of those meals. Council has taken what councilors called “swift” action to stop this type of abuse although taxpayers may say “swift” is a bit if a fib as well.

JOHN TORY AT WORK

165 kids plant Leaside gardens in junior program

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The Leaside Gardeners Twitter account is saying this evening that 165 Grade 3 children planted local community gardens this past week in Leaside. It is a charming and so worthwhile exercise for these kids. The program is part of the Leaside Garden Society’s Junior Gardeners program

Liberals push ahead with big spending budget

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Despite the widespread belief that the new Liberal government would have to moderate it’s “build up, invest in” spending plans, the Premier has said the same pre-election budget that triggered the election will be brought back to the Legislature on July 2, 2014. Huffington Post 

Premier Wynne has a date with Don Drummond

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The National Post Friday, June 13, 2014 spread appears to lament the people’s choice while predicting the victorious Liberals will have no choice but to deal with Ontario’s staggering debt. The hope and light will, some say, disappear just the way it did after the last election when Premier McGuinty tried to get serious about money. Still lurking in the background is the notorious Drummond Report, commissioned by the Liberals early in 2012, in which the former bank economist described a horrifying picture of the province’s finances. Some people think the Liberals must now heave to and deal with that. But will they? Premier Wynne is a versatile performer but it will require her to show an unlikely tendency to do things such as cancel all-day kindergarten. Drummond said it was essential to do that. And for all her toughness, the Premier has essentially failed to address the four-million-dollar man entitlement scam that plays out at too many government agencies. We still hear the feeble lie that these kinds of dollars have to be paid to get “get the best person.” Don Drummond Report

Wynne gracious in victory, Hudak quits as leader

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Premier Kathleen Wynne tonight accepted the acclaim of supporters and thanked Tim Hudak for his service to Ontario. Mr. Hudak told supporters in his home of Niagara Falls that he will resign from the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party after meeting with the executive about a convention to choose a successor. Ms. Wynne won a majority government of 58 seats in the Legislature for the Liberral Party. It was an election triumph that was very unexpected. Polls had suggested a tight race, with a minority government of unknown stripe. There was apparently much last-minute decision-making by many voters. The final days of the campaign saw the PC platform criticized as negative. There was a Liberal drive to make voters fear a Hudak win. The Conservative leader had made inroads against Ms. Wynne in the televised debate, cornering her on the issue of the cancelled gas plants. But in the end it appears that this potent issue was trumped by the fear felt among too many voters that the PCs would somehow cause mass unemployment. Indeed, Hudak was criticised within his own party for announcing a plan to eliminate or fire 100,000 public service workers.  As noted below, informed commentators of all parties said tonight that the new Liberal government will be forced to deal with Ontario’s mushrooming deficits. Many called the prospect for the months to come “sobering”. On this night, however, the Premier once again promised a bright future for Ontario in which her government will “build up” the province.  

Pundits call future “sober” for victorious Liberals

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There is joy overflowing at the Liberal Party election night meeting. At the Tim Hudak gathering there are tears. The Liberals forged a victory that leaves the polls looking just plain wrong. The commentary in the light of the victory follows a few themes: Mr. Hudak will have to look hard at his future as leader of the PCs and that the Ontario financial state is so serious that the Liberals are going to be forced to do at least some of the difficult plans proposed by the PCs. Former NDP leader Howard Hampton said the Liberals cannot afford to pile on 12 percent increases to the deficit. Frank Klees, a Conservative, said it is a sobering result. Former Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman said the new government will have tough challenges. 

Liberals show strong performance in Toronto

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The Liberals have shown a surprising performance across Toronto and in South Bayview. It is a result that put the interpretation of so many pollsters in the shade. Among the hardest blow for the PCs is the loss of Doug Holyday in Etobicoke by Liberal Peter Milczyn.  Premier Wynne, Eric Hoskins, Glen Murray and other area members were easily re-elected. In Trinity Spadina, 24 year NDP veteran of the Legislature Rosario Marchese was defeated by Han Dong, for the Liberals. It was an upset that stunned observers and trashed the election talk of the New Democrats coming on strong.  

Wynne Liberals headed for a majority.

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At 9.30 p.m. it appeared the Liberal government would be re-elected and quite possibly with a majority. CTV

Happy Dad’s Day in advance and check this link

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#MVPDad has some amusing pictures. Whole hashtag may be promotion for Sports Clips but that’s okay.

Brazil 3-1 against Croatia after scoring on own net

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They’re calling it “unconvincing” but a win is a win and that’s what Brazil did in defeating Croatia 3-1 today in the World Cup opener.   Brazil had a disastrous start when defender Marcelo sent the ball on a wobbly bounce right into his own net. CTV 

Do Twitter posts reflect general voting intent?

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With election results barely an hour away, one of the great unknowns is whether pollsters can rely on Twitter to predict the outcome. Ipsos-Reid and others are working away at what Twitter posters are saying about how they will vote. But, do the people who comment on this new social media represent anything like the real world of Ontario voters? The marketing research company has been tracking and interpreting thousands of conversations related to the provincial election that have taken place on Twitter since the writ dropped on May 2. Voter intentions seem to favour the Liberals, who hold a share of 35% of the vote, according to the analysis. Tim Hudak’s Progressive Conservatives are not far behind at 33%, with the NDP trailing at 28%. But the common sense awareness that this cannot be a representative sample of voters is on the mind of people like Mirza Baig, a digital and social media strategist at Mash Media. Be careful with this information, he says  “If you look at some of the methodology and the analysis behind it, it can be questionable and iffy,” Mr. Baig told the National Post. “If I as a Twitter user am taking the time to either say I’m going to vote Liberal, or I’m going to vote PC, NDP, whichever party, that is not taking into account in any way the people that are just not taking the time to go on Twitter.”  Shortly after 9 p.m. we will know if there is any connection between Twitter posts and the real world. 

Committee rejects 92 Roxborough St. severance

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Despite a last-minute intervention by Councillor Wong-Tam, the Committee of Adjustment rejected the application by Constantine Enterprises to sever the lot of 92 Roxborough W. and move the so-called Casey House coach house there. The building is slated to be demolished as part of a renovation project. Ms Wong-Tam, who has championed the move from the start sent a letter to the Committee of Adjustment supporting the severance and move. She did not attend the meeting. The Committee received more than 70 letters from residents opposing the project. People speaking against it included Ian Carmichael, the co-president of the ABC Residents Association. Constantine Enterprises has 20 days to appeal the decision. Yonge and Roxborough News