Brampton mayor Susan Fennell on phone bills, nice cars and “smear campaigns”
Susan Fennell’s poll numbers have plummeted over allegations of reckless spending. The Brampton mayor, running for her fifth term, is crying foul
In Toronto, you’re known as Brampton’s spend-happy, ultra-entitled mayor. Care to challenge that characterization?
Yes, I would. I’m the victim of a smear campaign by a collection of councillors and by the Toronto Star, which has a clear vendetta against me.
According to a Deloitte audit of your expenses, you have an on-call limo service that costs taxpayers $45,000 a year. Isn’t that a tad lavish for a public servant?
Well, it’s a sedan, not a limousine—it’s just rented through a limo agency. It’s an important service that allows me to get where I need to be safely and, if necessary, to continue working in the back seat while we drive.
Why do you also lease a Lincoln Navigator, which costs taxpayers an additional $1,400 a month?
Because I drive myself to many events. I need both options, depending on the circumstances.
Over seven years, your office has spent $134,847 on non-economy flights, sometimes for passes that are upgradable to business class, in violation of the city’s travel policy, which permits only economy fares.
Those passes allow me to change or cancel tickets with no fee or penalty.
They were on average twice as expensive as a normal economy fare bought on an as-needed basis.
I buy passes so I can have better control of my day and time, should I need to stay later or what have you. It’s akin to taking the 407 instead of the 401.
And you think the taxpayer should be on the hook for your flexibility?
Flexibility is essential if you want to do this job effectively.
Your credit card statements show you have a habit of buying personal items on your City of Brampton card and then reimbursing that card, which is against policy.
If, as mayor, I’m with a group related to mayoral business, I’ll pick up the dinner or lunch tab, maybe once or twice over seven years.
If it’s a legitimate business expense, then why repay it?
So as not to charge the taxpayer.
I see. Not to keep piling on, but what about the monthly phone bills from your office, which are as high as $1,156 per month? Should we talk about your long-distance plan?
I return calls and texts from wherever I am, and that’s what that phone bill shows. If I’m working in Vancouver or India and people are trying to reach me, I’ll respond.
Doesn’t $1,156 seem a bit rich?
I don’t arrange the plan, but I’m told we have the best one possible for my needs. Plus, none of my expenses—car, flights or phone—has ever put me over my office budget, not once in seven years.
Surely you’d agree that spending within your budget and spending wisely within your budget are two different things.
I have spent properly, and within my budget.
Not according to Deloitte and the integrity commissioner and councillors and a large swath of your electorate. In fact, you’ve got a list of enemies that seems to grow by the day. What’s it like to have so many detractors?
I think the 1,000 supporters who came out to my rally last night would disagree with your assertion. But the bad press takes a toll on my family—my husband, John, and our two sons.
How do you blow off steam?
I keep myself very busy. Sometimes, provided John’s not asleep, I like to come home and bang away on my drum set—a Yamaha Stage Custom kit that he bought me a few years ago. Whenever Burton Cummings’ backup band, the Carpet Frogs, comes to town, I get to sit in for “Proud Mary” with them. I’m an honorary Frogette.
You’ve been mayor since 2000. You’re currently trailing in the polls. What will you do if you lose your bid for a fifth term?
I believe I’ll win, because I believe that truth trumps evil, and what is being done to my name and my reputation is pure evil.
So you haven’t made any mistakes? The flight passes, the phone plan, the limo—
No. And it’s a sedan.
Sheesh, well you have to give her credit for sticking to her guns.
I’ve heard her on a radio interview recently and she came off as being very self-entitled and arrogant. The same way I felt after hearing Alison Redford speak as well. Absolutely no remorse and no regard for tax payers money. I hope the people of Brampton kick her to the curb. Voters are getting tired of her ilk.
You HAVE to give her credit ?? Are you nuts???..That ‘sedan’ cost $3800/trip over the last three years and for the $530,000 she has spent on that ‘sedan’..you could have BOUGHT a friggin’ Bentley and there’d still be under 50,000 kms, I bet.No documents: limo company, no documentation either ??? No paper trail. I wonder why ??
She needed 24-7 service, as if she was Batman ? How many times did it take a partying mayor home from a private shindig, clad in her attention seeking chain of office ? Was it ever used to canoodle at New Year’s in Toronto ?? Hmmmm ?? There is plenty of more rot where Fennell came from in Brampton..time to focus on taxpayer funded sponge groups like Brampton Safe City ,BDDC, and sell that white elephant of theater. It has been mismanaged from day one, costs us $3 million/year and includes a $464,000 renovation to her highness’ suite..the cost of a detached home for 100 sq feet of vanity! Makes me wanna puke. Meanwhile, payday loan companies and employment agencies feed off those who are unfortunate to find themselves in their grip..food banks are running low..and $464,000 untendered taxpayer dollars went out the window so she could see better or get more people in ?
The rot runs DEEP in Brampton…time for a big shake up !!
Smoke. Fire! Guess what? Denial is the tool of the desperate. Look at the Fords. They deny things all the time, and attack the media charging them with conspiracies. Susan, you’re done. Leave quietly. If you’re lucky there will be no criminal charges.
The mayor opposed regulation license bylaw to require mandatory criminal records check on children entertainers such as clowns , Santa magicians
Convicted pedophiles have had accesst o chidlren and homes
Why did Fenell oppose this bylaw ? How did she manage to cancel plans to regulate when city councilors voted 7-0 in favor The media release says Brampton leads the way
At a town hall meeting mayor said quote ” You are lucky I am giving you lip service”
How rude and arrogant !! Look at this http://docs.noodls.com/viewDoc.asp?filename=101085/EXT/8E4AE03E86B630BB58CABE1FF9CA945F9284E566_5A3B802D6B373A48D12186CA0FADF055F5699893.PDF
Not from Brampton so I thought I was reading a satire piece.
This is real?
Wow.
My condolences.
Hope she’s turfed in the election.
Rubbish, what have you sunk so low for. Why would you even interview her? Why does Toronto Life wish to appear to be doing the Toronto Sun’s job. I expect better, way better from you…but…alas, you seem to doing this very sad form of coverage a lot lately. Pathetic is one word. I suspect your readers can think of more.
A chauffeured sedan is the exact definition of limousine. Is this woman seriously going to argue a difference? I’d be happy if she said that something like, ” on certain occasions it makes sense that I use the services of a driver, whether it be a function where alcohol is served, I’m working an extra long day and it doesn’t make sense for me to drive while tired or I have an opportunity to work between engagements”. Not argue that it wasn’t some prom limo.
The good news is that in less than two weeks we won’t have to give her any credit at all.