City of Calgary Councilor Expense Scandal

[Cagare]

I worked at a Municipality for a few years in a senior position. No one, not even Councillors were allowed to expense alcohol. I regularly attended conferences with Councillors, we bought each other drinks on our own dime, or we were at events that were sponsored and included booze. I also rarely claimed food, and got others to pay like consultants, councillors or other government employees from other organizations because the money came out of my departments annual budget.

Now I am back in consulting again. There is a limit in this industry, depending on the company. I can tell you I ran up some hefty bills with a lot of alcohol and never had it questioned. It's all about what's on the receipt, keep the weird shots off of there and you are fine, at least in that environment.

[lasimmon]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Even for alcoholics booze at lunch isn't normal unless it's on vacation or Friday.

I probably have 97% of my booze intake at lunch.


For me though, depending on who I am with I could have a $500 bill without anyone asking twice, or I could have an $80 bill and someone make inquire. Booze usually involved.

[rage2]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Even for alcoholics booze at lunch isn't normal unless it's on vacation or Friday.

As a former alcoholic, I can tell you booze at lunch is completely normal. I wanna say I used to have 5-6 highballs with my lunch regularly. Hell I used to drink screwdrivers at breakfast lol.

[ExtraSlow]

I'm not sure @gatorade understand what being an alcoholic means.

[speedog]

No booze for me at lunch, my saws are not forgiving of careless mistakes. Just the slightest inadvertent placement of a finger can result in it getting cut off. Alcohol doesn't add well into that mix - no different than being tired, if I'm tired then the saws get shut down.

[Buster]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

As a former alcoholic, I can tell you booze at lunch is completely normal. I wanna say I used to have 5-6 highballs with my lunch regularly. Hell I used to drink screwdrivers at breakfast lol.

i would be incapacitated

[suntan]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

What's the probability of this going anywhere?

Feels like if "fraud" is the correct word to use, he ought to be gone already. Heard that there's some people asking for his resignation but if you ignore them long enough, some new shit will hit the fan and this becomes old news.

Fraud means a deliberate attempt to deceive.

He's mostly an idiot and a moron, so I doubt it was fraud.

[spikerS]

back on topic....

Spendshi has called an emergency council meeting for today at 13:15. Of course it is behind closed doors, again...

In attendance besides council will be the City Manager, The city's lawyer, Ethics advisor, and Integirty Commissioner.

So much for transparency...

[bjstare]

Only time I can't expense drinks on a work outing is when I'm headed back to a client office where they have a zero tolerance policy for consumption during work hours (O&G producer client). Our office often has drinks for everyone for one reason or another (in the office) on Friday afternoons.

[killramos]

A typical morning at the office is that the admins forgot to stock up on cream in the closer fridge so everyone just reaches for the 40 of baileys that’s there instead of walking to the lounge on the other side of the floor.

[JRSC00LUDE]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Even for alcoholics booze at lunch isn't normal unless it's on vacation or Friday.

Wut?

[rx7boi]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Fraud means a deliberate attempt to deceive.

He's mostly an idiot and a moron, so I doubt it was fraud.

That's usually a fair assumption, but I also trust politicians as far as I can throw them.

I'm not sure how you would explain having lunch with someone you didn't meet. You don't have to be smart to commit fraud.

If anything, I'd like to see an example made out of him but that's a big ask.

[suntan]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

That's usually a fair assumption, but I also trust politicians as far as I can throw them.

I'm not sure how you would explain having lunch with someone you didn't meet. You don't have to be smart to commit fraud.

If anything, I'd like to see an example made out of him but that's a big ask.

You honestly can't really prove it, but hearing Magliocca talk, I'm surprised the shithead can piss into a urinal properly.

Also it's such a petty small thing to fraud over, when all the real grift is in large projects. Just having insider knowledge on where future development is going to happen is a huge money maker. Ask Nenshi...

[vengie]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

back on topic....

Spendshi has called an emergency council meeting for today at 13:15. Of course it is behind closed doors, again...

In attendance besides council will be the City Manager, The city's lawyer, Ethics advisor, and Integirty Commissioner.

So much for transparency...

That's because I bet you 90% of the council has an expense account just like old Joe.

[Cagare]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

That's because I bet you 90% of the council has an expense account just like old Joe.

Well, possibly in regular business their expenses live up to the rules that were previously set, and forgotten about. Now, in current day standards they probably will look pretty bad to the public, even if they are in line with the rules.

I recall living in Ontario that Nenshi would come their to market the City and get people to come to Calgary, when he was first elected. What do you think some of those expenses included?

Honestly, I am betting this guy couldn't keep track of who was at whatever meal when he was paying and just put in names he was there with. He may not even honestly remember.

[cdnsir]

The guy needs to be crucified, no excuses for making up attendees on the expenses. There's no defense for straight up falsifying information on the books

I've worked in the public sector and forget ordering out for Lunch and Learns, we had to brown bag it. Coffee and cookies for a half day, 10-people workshop? Nice try, we need approval just to bring in a $5 bag of jelly beans.

Here's this guy blowing out double of what everyone else spends, and if he is forced out, he'll get a sweet councilor's transition bonus too, it's disgusting.

[jwslam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The guy needs to be crucified, no excuses for making up attendees on the expenses. There's no defense for straight up falsifying information on the books

I've worked in the public sector and forget ordering out for Lunch and Learns, we had to brown bag it. Coffee and cookies for a half day, 10-people workshop? Nice try, we need approval just to bring in a $5 bag of jelly beans.

Here's this guy blowing out double of what everyone else spends, and if he is forced out, he'll get a sweet councilor's transition bonus too, it's disgusting.

TaxPayers: Joe is wasting all our money!
Government: Ok Joe. Sorry for the troubles that you caused. Here's a big chunk of taxpayer money to make sure you don't do it again.

yup. Sounds exactly like what may happen if he were to be removed.
And when he's not removed, it becomes a new norm that everyone else can copy.

[mr2mike]

Falsifying information to personally profit from employer.
This is Fraud. Easy grounds for dismissal with cause and should also be criminally prosecuted.

[spikerS]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Falsifying information to personally profit from employer.
This is Fraud. Easy grounds for dismissal with cause and should also be criminally prosecuted.

I don't think I can disagree with you.

[rx7boi]

Radio says he went AWOL and skipped out on the 4 hour closed door meeting yesterday