The abrupt “resignations” of two former mayors in Vaughan and Toronto spurred wagging tongues into overdrive. Unlike in Toronto, at least in Vaughan the electorate did not have to go through a charade of an election only to find itself, three short months, before yet another election to replace the eminently replaceable.
Now that the taint of systemic corruption of our electoral processes by those whose political loyalties have become the subject of “investigation and reporting” by agencies entrusted with safeguarding our society from the nefarious interference of others, people have become more sensitive and dejected by what was going on around them.
Why did we not see the obvious, they state mournfully. One of them, the author below, thought he was fulfilling his civic duty with his involvement at the local level. After fact-checking some of his assertions, we agreed to publish his observations – these are his and his alone – based on personal experience and the public record.
The Prime Minister has finally agreed to appoint an impartial rapporteur to determine whether a full-blown investigation is warranted, as reported elsewhere in these pages. (ed.)
More rot to come at City Hall
In February, somebody leaked a CSIS report about the alleged interference by the Chinese government to elect and control Canadian elected officials. A prior CSIS report in 2016 alleged former Liberal MPP, Cabinet Minister Michael Chan was suspected of being too close to China. CSIS warned then Premier Kathleen Wynne about Chan, but she dismissed the allegations because Chan was a great fundraiser and could deliver lots of votes.
Electors might have expected that the “political system” would avoid Chan after that report became public. The opposite happened. Elected officials and candidates kept hanging around with him. Not to be too cynical, why should the CSIS report matter to you if are running for office and need votes, volunteers and money, right?
I read a report in February, written by investigative journalist Sam Cooper, about Don Valley North Liberal MP, Han Dong, winning his nomination due to Chan and the Chinese Consulate Office. CSIS warned Prime Minister Trudeau before Dong was elected that he was with Chan and too close to China. Astonishingly, Trudeau defended Dong when this was revealed.
Trudeau even praised Dong. This month, Cooper reported on Don Valley North Conservative MPP Vincent Ke and how, he too, was tied to the Chinese Consulate Office. CSIS claimed Ke was given $50,000 in 2018 to help elect candidates.
Enter 2018 candidates for City Council, Shelley Carroll and her opponent Christina Liu. Both ran in Don Valley North and Carroll won while Liu placed second. Unbelievably, Carroll vaunted her endorsement by Michael Chan, the man CSIS already warned us about in 2016. Apparently, Councillor Carroll couldn’t care less about her entourage.
She printed a flyer in May 2018, when she was campaigning for election as MPP, bragging about being endorsed by Michael Chan. To call this very poor judgement is an understatement. It might make one question her ethics. She lost the provincial election in June 2018. The Liberals were swept from power at Queen’s Park. But you can guess who helped her get back the seat in Council in October 2018.
And how might Christina Liu be involved in all of this? Well Liu confessed in 2018 that Vincent Ke was living in her house, rent free, since being elected MPP. Which makes sense as it would be very difficult for Ke to pay any rent for living at Liu’s home with Liu and her husband on an MPP’s salary of $130,000, right? We all feel bad for Ke.
This month, an “updated” CSIS report was leaked accusing Ke of receiving $50,000 cash for distribution to help elect candidates that commitment of help from the Chinese Consulate Office in the form of many volunteers. Liu had already served as his Campaign Manager to get him elected in May 2018 as MPP, and he was living in Liu’s home, so of course he endorsed her for City Councillor.
Did Ke give Liu some of that cash and some of the volunteers that CSIS reported about? How did Liu raise enough money to buy far more signs than even Carroll? How did Liu raise enough money to print at least five brochures for every household? How did Liu get so many volunteers to accomplish that?
CSIS has revealed much skullduggery at the federal and provincial levels. Perhaps CSIS will soon shed some light on the chicaneries at the municipal level (British Columbia authorities appear to concur).
Gino Lombardo
Gino Lombardo has been a resident of Don Valley North for more than 30 years.
