Quote:
Originally Posted by frinkprof
In addition to the above, Although I don't know all the details on this one, the mayor (or, say, a single alderman) typically doesn't "engage" directly and as a sole actor with consultants or vendors, etc. in the way you seem to be implying. Administration typically does this after the budget for the particular program/study is granted by council, then the consultants will be invited to report to council intermittently during the study/program or when it is complete.
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Which is what Levant does by suggesting the Mayor is "funding Pembina". It's absurd. He also claims the Mayor directly hired a former Pembina staff member. Also, absurd.
Also in this article Levant goes after the "biggest biller" to the City - Jesse Row. This guy advises on sustainable community growth practices, and energy efficiency of buildings. Expertise to activities the City engages in everyday. Yet, Row's mechanical engineering degree is somehow irrelevant as a professional expertise on such matters. He's just another anti-Alberta, anti-oil activist or something.
With reference to "when did you stop beating your wife?" - it's a common phrase in argument or debate to point out a loaded question fallacy. Seriously, there's nothing to actually be offended about here.
The Mayor's not one to just let slide or put up with false or ridiculous accusations - especially from Levant, who among other things has accused the Mayor of being anti-Christian due the way the City has dealt with Art Pawlowski.
Specifically on contracts with Pembina, the Mayor has answered questions in several media interviews that Pembina offers the City consulting expertise on certain issues or projects just as it does for industry in town and the Alberta Government. People are free to question the appropriateness of that, but the way Levant does it, let's just say, is in typical Levant style.