Nenshi a hit in Toronto!

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Slava

Honest question: what do you mean? Why shouldn't members of council be calling out the mayor and vice-versa? Isn't that one of the checks and balances built into the system?

IMO it's good that the checks and balances are in place, but the same alderman who criticized the mayor took a similar trip not paid by the city, and said it was a completely different scenario. A little hypocritical of him...

[The Yen Man]

As someone already clearly pointed out in this thread, the firm flew him over to Toronto to give a speech at their sponsored event. Why wouldn't they be paying for his airfare? It's just that Nenshi thought to kill two birds with one stone by also promoting Calgary while he was there, hence saving the tax payers a bit of money. Nenshi should have just done it like all the other mayors and just flew first class on taxpayer's money and expensed everything to his spending account. At least then he wouldn't get so much grief over it.

This is nothing more than political grandstanding, and Lowe and CDU both know it. I guess with Nenshi coming in the scene, the gravy train stops, and useless polticians who are used to kickbacks and luxuries at the taxpayers expense now have all their moves scrutinized, so they hate him for it. They're just throwing whatever they can towards Nenshi and hopes anything sticks.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

As someone already clearly pointed out in this thread, the firm flew him over to Toronto to give a speech at their sponsored event. Why wouldn't they be paying for his airfare? It's just that Nenshi thought to kill two birds with one stone by also promoting Calgary while he was there, hence saving the tax payers a bit of money. Nenshi should have just done it like all the other mayors and just flew first class on taxpayer's money and expensed everything to his spending account. At least then he wouldn't get so much grief over it.

This is nothing more than political grandstanding, and Lowe and CDU both know it. I guess with Nenshi coming in the scene, the gravy train stops, and useless polticians who are used to kickbacks and luxuries at the taxpayers expense now have all their moves scrutinized, so they hate him for it. They're just throwing whatever they can towards Nenshi and hopes anything sticks.

Too bad the membership of their respective Wards couldn't organize and demand another vote. Their behavior is pathetic.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Too bad the membership of their respective Wards couldn't organize and demand another vote. Their behavior is pathetic.

Maybe they can pull an Egypt.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

You seriously think a $721 plane ticket meets the checks & balances threshold for going to the media?

I thought that you were just saying that they shouldn't be second guessing the mayor in general, not specifically regarding the airfare itself (hence my asking the question).

Originally Posted by shermanator

IMO it's good that the checks and balances are in place, but the same alderman who criticized the mayor took a similar trip not paid by the city, and said it was a completely different scenario. A little hypocritical of him...

Ya, it could be hypocritical. That trip was a trip to China though and was basically a trip paid for by the Chinese for the city to lobby them for business; not really the same situation?

Like I've said before in this thread I'm not an anti-Nenshi guy. I voted for him and would do it again today. I still think that there was a potential conflict of interest here though and just that potential probably means that the city should've paid the $721 and make the (very successful) trip beyond reproach.

[JustAnotherGuy]

I am not trying to start something or lead into anything. But I have a question.

Does the city have bylaws in regards to what an employee can accept as 'gifts' from other companies? Other companies that do business with the city? I know some of the companies I have contracted with had some pretty strict rules about having lunches paid for etc and conflict of interest.

[Slava]

^ As far as I know there isn't anything standard for the Councillors and mayor. I don't know about other employees.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I am not trying to start something or lead into anything. But I have a question.

Does the city have bylaws in regards to what an employee can accept as 'gifts' from other companies? Other companies that do business with the city? I know some of the companies I have contracted with had some pretty strict rules about having lunches paid for etc and conflict of interest.

Absolutely, we do.