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Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:42:19

Wong-Tam Open Letter

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam tweets an open letter response to not being allowed to attend a childcare meeting on October 13, 2011.

  1. kristynwongtam
    Dear @TOMayorFord, I was informed at 6 PM by Councillor @Janet_Davis that there was a meeting for the Task Force on Child care this evening.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 21:59:06
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  2. kristynwongtam
    As I am a member of the standing Community Development and Recreation committee, I felt obliged to attend.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:00:43
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  3. kristynwongtam
    I arrive promptly at 7 PM and waited for the meeting to begin.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:02:00
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  4. kristynwongtam
    Councillor Mammoliti entered the committee room and asked Councillor Davis and I to leave the meeting; and speak to "his" staff.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:02:38
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  5. kristynwongtam
    He was referring to your political staff as "his" own. Last time I check, Mr. Mayor, you are still the Mayor and not Councillor Mammoliti.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:04:08
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  6. kristynwongtam
    Councillor Mammoliti had dropped out of the Mayoral campaign.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:04:58
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  7. kristynwongtam
    Councillor Davis and I were then told by the Mayor's staff that we were not welcome and asked us to leave meeting.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:05:27
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  8. kristynwongtam
    To my surprise, your staff rejected this simple proposal, stating it was your personal instruction to have us leave the room. So we did.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:07:30
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  9. kristynwongtam
    Mr. Mayor, the criteria in holding "closed" meetings is clearly set out in the City of Toronto Act, 2006.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:09:14
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  10. kristynwongtam
    I suggested that we could let the Task Force committee members determine whether or not councillors were permitted to audit the meeting.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:05:44
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  11. kristynwongtam
    The Act states, "All meetings of City Council, its local boards and committees of both must be open to the public...
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:10:29
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  12. kristynwongtam
    ...unless otherwise required or permitted by law."
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:11:42
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  13. kristynwongtam
    Now Mr. Mayor, you and I both know that Councillor Davis and I had every right to be at this meeting.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:12:45
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  14. kristynwongtam
    There was no prior notice that the meeting would be closed. Nor was it necessary to evict Councillor Davis and I from the meeting.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:14:09
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  15. kristynwongtam
    I have been welcomed to meetings and functions at City Hall by everyone one of your predecessors going back to Mayor Eggleton.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:16:28
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  16. kristynwongtam
    I have never been asked to leave a meeting room at City Hall before as private citizen.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:18:04
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  17. kristynwongtam
    As an elected representative, in the last three weeks, I have been asked to leave two Mayor's events by your staff.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:18:39
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  18. kristynwongtam
    First, at a closed door press conference on September 26 and tonight at a closed door task force meeting on child care.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:19:12
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  19. kristynwongtam
    Mr. Mayor, you ran on a campaign to make government more "open and transparent." I support you in achieving this objective.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:23:18
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  20. kristynwongtam
    Mr. Mayor, when do you think, you might want to begin fulfilling this campaign pledge? One that promised greater electoral accountability.
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:24:57
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  21. kristynwongtam
    Once again may I gently remind you that a little respect will go along way. In closing, I remain patiently waiting to work with you, Kristyn
    kristynwongtam
    Thu, Oct 13 2011 22:31:26
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